Yola, 15 September 2022: The Adamawa State Government in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme announced today the distribution of cash grants to 900 traders in Gulak, Madagali Local Government Aera (LGA), Adamawa State. Focusing on the vulnerable, especially women and youths, the grant which amounts to a total of (NGN 36,000,000) Thirty-Six Million Naira, seeks to provide the beneficiaries with extra support for their small-scale businesses while helping others establish new businesses as a means of livelihoods.

Following years of insecurity and insurgency devastation, UNDP Nigeria has been working with the local government in Adamawa State to restore the local economy of the conflict-affected community. Cash grants were identified as one of the livelihood solutions which will eventually promote the successful start-up of businesses and trades while also improving the general wellbeing of the community and restoring their lives to normalcy.

Speaking during the launch of the grants programme, H.E Umara Fintiri, Governor Adamawa State stated that, “We are pleased to work alongside UNDP Nigeria to support the re-establishment of livelihoods and businesses in Gulak.” He further added that, “Our goal is to ensure business continuity and sustainability which will lead to rapid recovery from the impact of the conflict and eventually absorb the economic shocks to informal businesses at this time that the country is experiencing inflation”.

Reinforcing what the Governor said, the UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, Mr. Mohammed Yahya, said “the cash grant will help restore hope, resilience, and stability in the community. This support will not only encourage displaced people to return home but will give them hope and surety to begin the journey of building forward better with sustainability in mind.” Mr. Yahya further added that “supporting local businesses will help in growing and sustaining the local economy which will eventually lead to long term development”.

Supported through the Regional Stabilization Facility Project (RSF), each beneficiary is expected to receive a sum of (NGN 40,000) Forty Thousand Naira which will serve as a tool for building forward better from the conflict and enhancing their livelihoods for the better.

UNDP Nigeria, Head of Stabilization, Mr. Simon Ridley stated that “through this Cash Grant, UNDP Nigeria will support selected vulnerable people affected by the impact of conflict to ease the effects of job loss and livelihoods”. Additionally, Mr. Ridley emphasized the importance of providing support to conflict affected persons and communities “we need to deploy all support possible to conflict affected person to help them recover and start afresh quickly. This support is not to get them to forget the incident, but to show them that we stand with them and are ready to hold their hands”.

The Regional Stabilization Facility for Lake Chad is funded by the Nigeria Government, European Union, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Sweden. Through this programme, UNDP is supporting efforts aimed at immediate stabilization of conflict-affected communities by providing all necessary support required for their rebuilding. The three main outputs targeted by the programme are improved community safety and security; re-establishment and functioning of essential infrastructure and basic services; and availability of livelihood opportunities at the household level.

Note to Editors

About UNDP Nigeria

UNDP is the leading United Nations international development organization working in 170 countries to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. UNDP helps countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience.

UNDP has been in Nigeria since the country became independent in 1960 providing capacity building and policy development support to the Federal Government of Nigeria in areas of Governance & Peace Building, Inclusive growth and Sustainable Development. UNDP continues to support, the government in the implementation of development intervantions aimed at meeting the medium to long term goals enshrined the; Economic Recovery and Growth Plan 2017-2020; National Vision 2020 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.

For further information contact:

Christabel Chanda – Ginsberg

Public Engagement, Outreach and Partnership Lead

Christabel.chanda-ginsberg@undp.org

Amalachukwu Ibeneme

Communications Analyst

amalachukwu.ibeneme@undp.org