Food Insecurity: UNICEF empowers local actors to deliver life-saving aid in North East Nigeria

From Alhaji Yusuf, Damaturu

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is expanding its flagship local capacity-building program from Borno State to Yobe State in Northeast Nigeria as part of a strategic move to overcome security barriers in the region.

The expansion in collaboration with Yobe state Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA) aims to strengthen the humanitarian response for children and families facing acute food insecurity and malnutrition.

UNICEF Emergency Specialist, Maiduguri field Office, Josephine Nneka Okide explained that the three-year-old initiative focuses on empowering local humanitarian actors to reach the most vulnerable where international agencies cannot.

“One of UNICEF’s core visions is to leave no child behind. However, we face security challenges that prevent us from going everywhere. But with the local actors, we can reach every child regardless of the security situation,’ Okide stated

According to her malnutrition is a severe concern, with children suffering from acute and moderate malnutrition. Widespread food insecurity, driven by the activities of non-state actors that prevent farming and exacerbate economic hardship, has created a critical need for intervention.

“Building the capacities of local actors will help reduce malnutrition. They are able to go into communities, educate mothers on providing nutritious diets using available local food items, and promote exclusive breastfeeding. We believe this will reduce the malnutrition rate,” said the UNICEF field officer.

These local partners she further revealed will provide a comprehensive suite of services, including health, nutrition, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and protection. They play a crucial role in identifying children separated from their parents due to conflict, linking them to care, and referring malnourished or sick children for treatment.

“The program has a proven track record. For three consecutive years, it has trained 60 local actors annually in Borno State. The expansion into Yobe will begin with 45 local actors, alongside government partners like SEMA and NEMA, and UN agencies such as OCHA.

“This year we decided to extend this to Yobe State to further this cause, The aim is to complement each other’s capacities so that we can reach every child and every woman, wherever they are,” Okide explained