The Yobe Emergency Management Agency has partnered with UNICEF to strengthen the capacities of local actors to tackle children’s malnutrition and other forms of emergencies.

Josephine Nneka, emergency specialist, Maiduguri Office of UNICEF, stated this at a ‘Dialogue Session with Local Actors in Northeast Nigeria’ on Thursday in Damaturu.

The local actors include civil society organisations and relevant government agencies that implement humanitarian and development programmes.

According to Ms Nneka, strengthening local actors enhances greater access to malnourished children in hard-to-reach areas.

“Due to security and other challenges, UNICEF and other development partners cannot be everywhere.

“But with local actors, we can be able to reach any child wherever he or she is. This is in line with our vision.

“Local actors play critical roles, including educating communities on exclusive breastfeeding and using locally available food items to prepare a balanced diet for children,” she said.

According to her, no fewer than 105 local actors in Borno and Yobe are currently being trained by UNICEF in emergency response and financial management.

The official listed other services provided by local actors to include educating members of the public on water and sanitation, as well as reuniting abducted children with parents and loved ones.

Mohammad Jalo, the agency’s director, rescue operation, stated that the dialogue would assist in harmonising the roles of different actors to prevent duplication of responsibilities during emergency response.

He said that as donor fatigue intensified in the state, building capacities of local actors would enhance sustainability, ownership and participation in the emergency response mechanism.

He thanked UNICEF for choosing the state as a venue for the dialogue, which was previously held in Borno for three years.

Kachalla Mustapha, executive director, Roadmap for Women and Youth Development, said that the dialogue had enhanced his capacity to draw funds from the UNICEF for emergency response.

He assured that, with training and restraint, local actors were prepared to serve the people by virtue of their familiarity with the terrain.

(NAN)