Germany Unleashes €20m Lifeline for Northeast Nigeria
In a renewed show of commitment to humanitarian support, the German government has approved a fresh €20 million grant for the second phase of the UNICEF and World Food Programme (WFP) Resilience Programme, aimed at rebuilding war-torn communities in Nigeria’s northeast.
The intervention targets Borno and Yobe States, where millions have been devastated by over a decade of insurgency, displacement, food insecurity and weakened infrastructure. With this funding, Germany—through its Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and KfW Development Bank—intends to expand access to essential services for over 200,000 vulnerable residents.
This second phase follows the success of the first, which ended in December 2024 after reaching more than 150,000 people with critical services including nutrition, healthcare, water and sanitation, child protection, and education. Nearly 40,000 out-of-school children were reintegrated into learning, while over 300,000 residents gained access to clean water.
The expanded programme will now extend to four additional local government areas: Bama and Konduga in Borno, and Potiskum and Jakusko in Yobe. It will also promote peacebuilding, economic empowerment, vocational training, and sustainable livelihoods, while focusing on grassroots resilience.
Dr. Karin Jansen, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Abuja, underscored Germany’s enduring commitment to locally driven recovery in Nigeria’s conflict-hit northeast. She said Germany’s collaboration with UNICEF and WFP reflects a deliberate effort to strengthen grassroots resilience against the compounded challenges of conflict and climate change, particularly for women and children, who remain the most vulnerable.
UNICEF and WFP say the programme will address the urgent needs of families battling climate shocks, rising food prices, and loss of income, with both agencies stressing the importance of state and community involvement to ensure long-term sustainability. The initiative is expected to run until December 2026.