Summary of Maiduguri on Solutions Strategy for the North East Nigeria 1 P a g e
Context and background Representatives of ACAPS, OCHA, OXFAM, IOM, IRC, NRC, OCHA, UNFPA, UNHCR and UNICEF participated in the first consultation organized by UNHCR in Maiduguri, Borno State on 24 January 2017, to initiate the development of a solution/return strategy for the North East Nigerian states. This initiative is based on a request made by the Resident Coordinator (RC) during his recent visit to the North East states of Borno State, Adamawa and Yobe. At the consultative meeting initial briefing and presentation set out the background to the initiative, suggested elements of a solutions strategy and provided guidance on next steps. The draft strategy, which will be further improved and refined through a series of consultations, will be presented at the Oslo donor s conference which will take place on the 21 February 2017 on Nigeria and the Lake Cha region. Based on a request made by the RC and DHC, the High Commissioner (UNHCR) has initiated the deployment of experienced senior staff from Geneva to support the process. The search for solutions in the North East Nigeria is taking place against the backdrop of an environment which presents serious challenges in both in terms of opportunities and risks. Surveys carried out with persons of concern in IDP camps show that internally displaced persons (IDPs) are eager to return to their Local Government Areas, LGAs when conditions are favorable. Security and access to services are seen as major concerns to IDPs and which must be met to facilitate returns. In several Government Areas (LGAs). IDPs and refuges are spontaneously returning to areas closer to their homes. The situation within LGAs has changed significantly with several main towns now cleared by military actors for returns. However, nearby villages outside the LGA headquarters r remain no-go areas for returnees and service providers. The government has also developed and launched a major reconstruction and recovery plan for affected states in the North East. State authorities in Adamawa and Borno have also stated their intention to close IDP camps by March and May 2017 respectively. Despite the fact that previous threats of camp closure did not materialize, there is a strong message from the government authorities and indications on ground to believe that several IDP camps and formal settlements will soon be closed. This underlines g the imperative for prompt international engagement. Humanitarian and development actors should also acknowledge risks associated with the ongoing conflicts, limited data and information particularly in return areas, the involuntariness of some of the return, limited presence of actors and civilian institutions and the predominant role being played by the military. The vast number of IDPs still remain in host communities and any strategy on solutions must reflect the needs of the host communities and opportunities for solutions. The strategy should not be preoccupied solely with closure of camps but incorporate broader solution considerations. In addition, the word durable needs to be further discussed to understand and capture the durable component of the process. As of now, it may not be appropriate to talk about the durability of the process. Given the effects of displacement, it is critical that a solution strategy is developed and adopted by both humanitarian and development actors. A solution strategy based on collaborative, coordinated and joint approach must be adopted. There is a need to look at issues beyond return purely and to consider a comprehensive plan that incorporates needs for longterm solution. The strategy, which aims to develop a holistic and joint prioritization of short-term to mediumterm and long-term interventions by humanitarian and development actors, should be solution-based and need to set out concrete activities along with funding requirements. This also requires establishing crosslinkages with existing plans and strategies including The Buhari plan, the Rehabilitation and Peacebuilding Assessment (RPBA), the United Nations Development Framework, UNDAF, the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and the HCT Framework on durable solutions and its operational checklist. 2 P a g e
Considerations and elements of the strategy Building on existing standards and guidelines including the HCT Framework on durable solutions, the 2011 Secretary General s Decision on Durable Solutions and other relevant tools, the strategy should present information the broader context, opportunities and risks, strategic visions and objectives, key standards and principles, core programmatic interventions by humanitarian and development actors, coordination and monitoring mechanism financial and resource mobilization. Given the uniqueness of the situation in the North East States of Nigeria,, the strategy to be developed must take into account the fluid and dynamic nature of displacement, return and security patterns whilst acknowledging concrete return in Yobe and Adamawa. Objective of the solution strategy The strategic mission and the overarching objective of the solution strategy is to support the development, financing, implementation and monitoring of joint, integrated and holistic programmatic interventions by humanitarian and development actors in affected North Eastern Nigerian states to support solutions including in areas where IDPs and refugees have returned voluntarily. Whereas further consultations with authorities should be encouraged, the strategy is mainly applicable to humanitarians and development actors, under the overall leadership of the RC. Its purpose is to align international support to and building the capacity of local authorities to operationalize government-led solutions approaches in a manner that is consistent with minimum international standards and build on best practices. Principles and standards It was noted that the strategy will be guided by the following principles and standards. Security and access Human rights, governance and rule of law Humanitarian and development partnership and linkage Centrality of state responsibility and local capacity Community participation, involvement and accountability; Principled humanitarian action International humanitarian law principles, Do no harm, Evidence based programing Centrality of Protection It is important to ensure that the involvement of humanitarian and development actors in the government s return and camp closure plans is done in a structured and phased manner that maintains compliance with the above mentioned standards, the reputation of international actors and importantly the safety and dignity of persons concerned. The return component of the solution strategy must also clearly set out the minimum conditions for engagement. These conditions include voluntariness of return, security, access and availability of government services. Security in areas of return is paramount to any programmatic intervention to be carried out by the humanitarian and development actors. IDPs should 3 P a g e
not be relocated from one location of displacement to another when they are still dependent on humanitarian assistance. Changing location of IDP from one camp in Maiduguri to one closer to their home may not have a significant impact. Interventions by humanitarian and development actors should be geared towards returning IDPs to their areas of origin and not to another camp. Unverified reports of landmines in areas of return needs to be ascertained. Discussions have been on-going to activate the Mine Action Group to conduct mine risk awareness. Priority programmatic areas In line with existing standards and government plans, priority solutions areas were presented under the following categories. Promoting solutions Intention survey Monitoring return Mapping local capacity Advocacy and capacity on standards Reconciliation and peacebuilding Community participation and engagement Service delivery Food and nutrition (production and markets) Health and education services Water and sanitation Shelter (transitional and permanent) Protection and psychosocial services Security and institutional Policy and legal framework (HLP tripartite) Local LGA capacity mapping, reestablishment of civilian authorities and mine action Law and order including informal justice system. De-radicalization, DDR, etc. Economic recovery Livelihood and skill acquisition programs Provide agriculture inputs Rehabilitation of local infrastructure Distribution of agricultural inputs The strategy further incorporates separate programmatic solution interventions which will be implemented under specific conditions, in the short-term medium-term and long term vision. The strategy will look at availability of resources and significant improvement in security sector reform and local capacity. The strategy will identify activities targeting beneficiaries and persons involved building capacities of authorities and local actors. To support the immediate needs of returnees, the strategy will outline the minimum return package. The complex and critical issue on housing, land and property rights must to be properly acknowledged. While engaging in return environment is pertinent to take into account child protection concerns, including Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC) and mal-nourished children. Child protection actors have registered more than 5,000 UASC and their desire is to be reunified with their parents or closed relatives. The challenges surrounding spontaneous returns may lead to further separation and disruption of intervention. The plight of Mal-nourished children must of essence be included in the feeding program during return only if similar services are available within the areas of return. Education should be considered as one of the key priority as return is being planned. 4 P a g e
Resource mobilization, coordination and involvement of the government The financial requirements for much of the solution-oriented activities has been clearly identified in the RPBA document. For instance, the funding required for core activities in the areas of peace-building and social cohesion, infrastructure and social service and economic recovery has been identified as follows ( in millions USD). State Peace building and social Infrastructure and social cohesion service Borno 38 4,000 Adamawa 28 595 Yobe 23 668 Economic recovery The resource requirements under the RPBA is massive. The strategy should therefore be able to outline activities that need to be prioritize in short term and transitional solution timeline. This approach should form a part of an effective resource mobilization strategy which reinforce donor s confidence. The strategy is not a government policy framework. It is a document which will be launched under the authority of the RC. However it should involve consultation with key government counterparts. It should serve as a strategic document which helps to negotiate a space for an effective and principled engagement in return and solution environment. In Borno there is a need to reactivate the government-led Return Taskforce. Next steps Draft strategy 30 January 2017 in Borno 31 January 2017 in Yobe 2 February 2017 in Adamawa 7 February 2017 Validation workshop in Abuja 10 February 2017 5 P a g e