In a significant stride in enriching the various fields of post-insurgency recovery and rehabilitation with knowledge, the Atiku Institute for Development of the American University of Nigeria (AUN-AID) is partnering with ActionAid Nigeria to train and empower professionals in the field. At the end of a week-long Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus training that took place on the Yola campus of the American University in late September, participants and HDP experts shared strategies for cohesive and sustainable interventions.
With the insurgency and insecurity that bedeviled their region firmly behind them now, communities in the northeast are rebuilding with renewed zest and commitment. Local community organizations have been working tirelessly to rebuild the foundations of peace and shared community values to promote development. It is against this backdrop that the AUN-AID partnered with renowned international NGO ActionAid Nigeria to provide HDP practitioners and professionals a shared platform for knowledge and update their skillsets in a collaborative atmosphere. ActionAid Nigeria is a household name in Nigeria and has been providing impactful roles in human development and capacity building across the country.
Key personalities who contributed ideas to the training's success clearly stated and emphasized these points. The President of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Dr. DeWayne P. Frazier, lauded the objectives of the 5-day workshop in confronting the longstanding disconnect among actors in the HDP sectors, who have historically operated independently with varying mandates, priorities, and approaches. Dr. Frazier stated that the theme of human development aligns with the American University of Nigeria's mission to foster relevant knowledge and empower local communities. As a development university totally committed to positively impacting the lives of members of our community, this training is most welcome.
The Administrator of Grants and Contracts of AUN-AID, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Hussaini, also addressed the theme of the training, pointing out that in the six key areas where resilience is most pronounced—physical, economic, social, institutional, community, and environmental—it is important to promote knowledge and greater understanding interactively to enhance a community's ability to withstand disruptions. The Administrator of Grants, who is also the Dean of the AUN School of Engineering, was elated that the partnership between ActionAid and AUN-AID would develop further and lead to more positive changes in the lives of our local communities and humanity in general.
AUN’s interim registrar and vice president for administration, Mr. Daniel Okereke, said the concept of linking relief, recovery, and development with resilience has assumed a more critical significance as communities grapple with natural and man-induced disasters.
“For communities, resilience is the equivalent of survival, but it is more than that. It is the adaptive capacity that enables individuals and communities to cope with and recover from adversity. It encompasses not just bouncing back but also adapting and preparing for future challenges. Recovery is a crucial stage in constructing resilience, which involves allocating resources and striking a balance between global and local investments”.
The HDP Nexus training emphasizes the importance of sustainability in aid delivery. Opening sessions focused on the HDP Nexus framework, which synergizes humanitarian aid, development programs, and peacebuilding efforts to achieve sustainable outcomes. Mr. Mubarak Yusuf, a consultant for ActionAid on Humanitarian, Development, Peace building Advisor, and Dr. Salisu Mohammed a technical lead on AUN-AID and ActionAid partnership, underscored the urgency for change, pointing out that, despite the billions of dollars invested in humanitarian interventions, many communities remain worse off than they were before. “You go to a community where funds have been invested for ten years, and the situation is worse than it was five years ago,” he said, driving home the need for an integrated approach.
Mr. David Habba Manager, Humanitarian and Resilience, North-East Liaison for ActionAid, in his special remarks mentioned that in 2016, the United Nations General Assembly introduced the HDP Nexus globally, with the aim of fostering a more holistic and coordinated approach to aid efforts. It teaches practitioners how to respond to crises while also planning for long-term development and peacebuilding: "By aligning emergency responses with development initiatives, we ensure displaced individuals can transition into stable livelihoods."
On September 26, the HDP Nexus participants, along with facilitators from Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states, embarked on a site visit to Malkohi Community in Yola South LGA, Adamawa State. Malkohi holds a special place in humanitarian affairs, having hosted a large community of internally displaced persons. The visit aimed to provide participants with an opportunity to apply some of the theoretical knowledge gained during the training.
Upon arrival, the team split into two groups for focused discussions—one with the male members of the community and the other with the women and adolescent girls. Ms. Aishatu Yakubu Saidu, Executive Director of Goggoji Zumunchi Development Initiative (GZDI), led the women’s group and engaged in insightful discussions regarding the challenges faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the host community.
The discussions revealed several pressing issues faced by women in the Malkohi community:
Lack of Livelihood Opportunities: Many women, including Mrs. Salamatu, the IDP women leader, spoke about the lack of capital for livelihood activities and poor market conditions that hinder sustainable business development.
Struggles of Orphaned Families: Madam Fadimatu, a widow with five orphaned children, shared her struggles in supporting her family without viable income-generating opportunities, highlighting a common issue among widows in the camp.
Water Scarcity: The community's solar-powered borehole is insufficient, forcing residents to travel long distances to fetch water, as described by Madam Aisha Baana.
Healthcare Challenges: Several women, including Habiba Ibrahim, have highlighted the lack of medical assistance, particularly for individuals with disabilities and expectant mothers. Some health workers' unprofessional conduct raised concerns, prompting calls for better training and sensitization.
Educational Barriers: Adolescent girls like Zainab Musa expressed the need for better educational facilities, such as separate classes for science and art students, as well as a laboratory for their school. The necessity for children to work to support their families further exacerbated the lack of access to education.
Gender-Based Violence: Many women, including Aisha Lawan and Fadimatu Musa, spoke about the rise in domestic violence, often attributed to the economic strain faced by families. Men transfer their frustrations onto women, subjecting them to emotional and physical violence.
The next phase of the HDP Nexus training session addressed the challenges that emerged during the discussions in Malkohi. Participants learned that effective aid interventions must integrate humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding components to foster sustainability. It stressed the importance of addressing the needs of both IDPs and host communities to prevent conflict and promote peaceful coexistence. Furthermore, they highlighted the concept of "collective outcomes," where actors from different sectors work together to maximize impact. For example, during a cholera outbreak, humanitarian workers could provide clean water, development actors could build long-term infrastructure, and peacebuilders could ensure that the aid distribution process does not inadvertently spark tensions.
The training emphasized the use of area-based strategies, encouraging organizations to collaborate within specific regions to avoid duplication of efforts. This integrated approach is crucial for tackling complex challenges.
As the training progressed, participants dug deeper into practical strategies for applying the HDP Nexus framework in their work. It was in anticipation that the practitioners would acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively integrate humanitarian aid, development, and peacebuilding efforts by the end of the week. This training represents a significant turning point in the delivery of aid in Nigeria, specifically in the states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe. By focusing on sustainability, collective action, and collaboration across sectors, the Atiku Institute for Development is helping pave the way for more resilient communities and a brighter future.
The HDP Nexus training not only empowered participants with theoretical insights but also provided hands-on experience through the Malkohi community visit. The challenges faced by the Malkohi community underscore the importance of integrated approaches to aid and development—approaches that consider not only immediate humanitarian needs but also the long-term well-being and resilience of affected communities.
The final day of the training, marked by a graduation ceremony on September 27, will commemorate the participants' journey as they embark on their mission to reshape the aid landscape in Nigeria. With new tools, perspectives, and a sense of shared responsibility, these practitioners are poised to make a lasting difference, ensuring that aid efforts are sustainable, integrated, and truly impactful for the communities they serve.
The Atiku Institute for Development (AUN-AID), under whose auspices the HDP nexus training was conducted for professionals in the northeast region is the specialist center of the American University of Nigeria responsible for managing donor relations, developing proposals, implementing projects, designing studies and research, and supporting faculty and graduate students with fellowships and internships to conduct ground-breaking research. The Institute is part of the university's activities and operates on its own independent financial and administrative management systems. Its priority areas are human development, education, and healthcare delivery. In education, AUN-AID supports states to increase access to education for out-of-school children, especially those affected by the insurgency and other drivers of exclusion. The center also assists state educational systems to enhance the training and quality of teachers.
In the field of healthcare, AUN-AID maintains a robust relationship with Ministries of Health, States’ Primary Health Care Development Agencies, and international, state, and local humanitarian and development agencies in the North East region of Nigeria. The center designs research in key areas of public health, with a focus on primary health care. These studies provide critical information, guide informed policy practice, and improve service delivery in primary health care.
Reported by By Haruna Aisha Tahir