The World Bank has approved $300 million to fund a new project aimed at improving access to services and economic opportunities for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and their host communities in northern Nigeria.
In a statement on Monday, the Washington-based organisation said the Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project (SOLID) was approved on August 7.
World Bank said the project will adopt an integrated development strategy to help displaced persons and host communities transition from humanitarian aid to self-reliance and resilience.
According to the World Bank, ongoing conflict and insecurity in the region have displaced more than 3.5 million people, straining infrastructure and deepening competition for scarce resources in affected communities.
The bank said SOLID will build on previous government and partner interventions, including the multi-sectoral crisis recovery project (MCRP), which focused on emergency recovery.
Key areas of focus include building climate-resilient infrastructure, promoting social cohesion, supporting livelihoods, and strengthening institutions to better respond to the pressures of forced displacement.
“We are glad to support this initiative which has a tremendous potential to help Nigeria in addressing development challenges associated with protracted displacement in a sustainable way,” Mathew Verghis, World Bank country director for Nigeria, said.
“The Project’s integrated approach which is aligned with the National IDP Policy and the FGN’s long-term development vision will ensure that IDPs and host communities can transition from dependency on humanitarian assistance to self-reliance and resilience which will open up better economic opportunities.”
World Bank added that the SOLID project is expected to benefit up to 7.4 million people, of whom up to 1.3 million individuals are identified as IDPs.
The organisation said the project will be implemented through a coordinated, community-driven approach involving all tiers of government, with strong partnerships from international stakeholders
