Germany will spend €20 million in the second phase of the resilience and peacebuilding programme in the North-East.

This is contained in a statement jointly signed by Folashade Adebayo and Chi Lael, the Communications Officers of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) respectively and issued in Damaturu on Thursday.

The statement said the funds would be provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW Development Bank.

It said that the project would be implemented by UNICEF and WFP in Borno and Yobe, in collaboration with the state governments.

“The second phase will expand the achievements of the first intervention by increasing access to essential services, food security and peacebuilding initiatives, reaching more than 200,000 people. The project will extend into four additional local government areas: Bama and Konduga in Borno and Potiskum and Jakusko in Yobe,” the statement said.

It explained that the project would deliver a range of essential services and resilience-building interventions, including child protection, food security, safe water supply, nutrition, and improved access to education and vocational skills for out-of-school children.

Others are the promotion of locally produced nutritious foods, strengthened food systems, conditional cash transfers, livelihood opportunities, environmental regreening efforts, and the establishment of peace clubs in schools.

“Food insecurity in North-East Nigeria remains one of the most critical challenges, exacerbated by climate change and economic hardship. Thanks to the support of the German government, climate-adaptive food systems have been revitalised, improving nutrition and economic outcomes for the most vulnerable. Phase II will ensure these gains are extended to additional communities in Borno and Yobe,” the statement quoted David Stevenson, WFP Country Director in Nigeria, as saying.

Recall that the first phase of the project had supported over 150,000 beneficiaries, including under-five children, pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls, out-of-school children, and food-insecure households in North-East Nigeria.

“Since inception, the project has delivered tangible results: over 60 solar-powered boreholes and 18 hand pump boreholes have been constructed or rehabilitated, providing safe water to nearly 300,000 people. Nearly 40,000 out-of-school children have regained access to education through formal and informal learning centres.

“Additionally, to support year-round food production for over 6,000 smallholder farmers, the project supplied drought-resistant seeds and solar-powered irrigation pumps,” the statement said.

It also noted that UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Cristian Munduate, appreciated the German government for the continued investment to support the protection of children and the most vulnerable populations in Borno and Yobe states.

(NAN)