UNICEF, WFP Launch Major Peace Project Phase II in Northeast,Targets 200,000 Vulnerable

By Yusuf A Yusuf, Damaturu 

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) officially launched Phase II of the Joint Resilience and Social Cohesion (Peace) Project in Yobe State, aiming to reach over 200,000 vulnerable people by December 2026.  

The launch event and inception workshop were held on Thursday in Damaturu, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).  

Ms. Rownak Khan,UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, hailed the significant achievements of Phase I (2021-2025) during her remarks,said the initial phase impacted more than 150,000 individuals across Borno and Yobe states.  

"Resilience is not just a concept, it is a right.And peace is not just a goal, it is a necessity for every child, every woman, and every household in Northeast Nigeria," Khan declared.  

She revealed key successes from Phase I included: nearly 40,000 out-of-school children regaining access to education;over 300,000 people gaining access to safe water and critical support reaching adolescent girls, female-headed households, and persons with disabilities across health, nutrition, WASH, child protection, and livelihood sectors.  

Khan stated that Phase II, funded by the German Federal Government through KfW Development Bank and implemented with the Yobe State Government, expands operations into five Local Government Areas (LGAs)of Bade,Jakusko, and Potiskum in Yobe State, plus two additional LGAs in the wider Northeast region.

She delivered a sobering counterpoint to the launch's optimism, revealing projections that 7.8 million Nigerians will require humanitarian assistance in 2025, including 3.6 million targeted for aid response. Alarmingly, over 1 million children face severe acute malnutrition risk.  

Khan expressed deep appreciation to the Government of Germany and KfW for their "vision and unwavering support," thanking the Governments of Borno and Yobe for their ongoing partnership.  

In his remarks, Mr. Guy Adoua, Deputy Country Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), underscored the synergy between both agencies.

"WFP and UNICEF are both part of the UN, and our work complements each other. WFP focuses on food security and nutrition, while UNICEF covers nutrition, education, WASH, and other areas.

"Our communities need all these forms of support.By working together, WFP and UNICEF can create significant positive impacts.

"We've been implementing this project with German Government support to build community resilience and strengthen social cohesion objectives we'll continue pursuing in the future,"Adoua explained.