By Olukayode Michael, Maiduguri
The
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is set to introduce a new strategy
aimed at increasing its humanitarian and development programmes in Nigeria.
The strategy, is to be implemented between 2019-2022 and captured under the new
Country Strategic Plan (CSP).
A statement issued by the WFP on Thursday quoted Myrta Kaulard, WFP Representative
and Country Director in Nigeria, as saying: “While we remain committed to the
crisis response in the north east, this plan provides new and wider entry
points for our assistance in Nigeria in the future.”
She said: “We look forward to broadening
engagement with the Nigerian authorities, the donors and the cooperating
partners in order to restore livelihoods and boost resilience and together
reduce the number of people depending on food assistance.”
She added that WFP will maintain its vital lifesaving assistance in Nigeria
under the new strategic blueprint; however, it will also focus on
self-reliance, resilience and peace building initiatives to enable access to
food by all that will help achieve zero hunger.
The statement revealed that the plan would also provide an opportunity for WFP
to strengthen gender-transformative programming in Nigeria by empowering women
and girls to face some of the challenges which affect their food security and
hinder their participation in decision-making.
The statement said the “WFP worked closely with the Government of Nigeria,
donor governments, civil society, private sector and other humanitarian
agencies and development partners working in the country to develop the new framework.
It is in line with Nigeria’s National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and is
also aligned with two of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals: SDG2 – Zero
Hunger, which aims to eradicate hunger by 2030; and SDG17, which promotes both
public and private partnerships.””
The statement noted that the WFP Executive Board had approved the Nigeria
Country Strategic Plan, during its meeting in February in Rome.
It said: “Since 2016, WFP’s emergency operation in the North East of Nigeria,
in cooperation with the Government authorities and partners, has made a
significant impact on the lives of the conflict-affected persons. In 2018, WFP
consistently addressed the immediate food needs of an average of 1.2 million
vulnerable people through the lean season.”
It recognized the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Nigerian
Humanitarian Fund, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States
as partners and funding sources that have provided or pledged contributions to
the CSP.