Nigeria - 2020 year-end report - Partnership and Coordination

2020

With regards to inter-agency coordination and other joint UN initiatives, UNHCR continued to play its role as lead agency for protection as well as for UNDAF Pillar 4: Human Security and Risk Management. In the first half of 2020, UNHCR approached numerous UN agencies such as UNDP, ILO, IOM, WFP, FAO and UN Women to explore possible in areas of collaboration and joint proposals.

UNHCR continued to explore and fully utilize opportunities for strategic partnerships with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, the North East Development Commission, NEDC, and development agencies such as UNDP to integrate programmes into development strategies and embark on activities that are beneficial to both the displaced and local communities.

UNHCR will strengthen interagency partnerships through coordination structures at both state and federal level including the Inter-Ministerial Task Force (IMTF) and the Government-led Humanitarian Coordination Working Group (HCWG). This coordination structure has provided a platform for the Government and humanitarian partners to plan and coordinate assistance for IDPs and other affected people to ensure a strengthened Nigeria-led humanitarian response. Sectors, including those co-led by UNHCR (i.e. protection and CCCM/Shelter), link with Government humanitarian and recovery response and will be reinforced to sustain/enhance the quality, speed and accountability of the response.

UNHCR participates consistently in the Nigeria Humanitarian Response Plan, HRP and will continue to remain a reliable partner, playing its part in the coordination of the Protection Sector Working group in collaboration with UNICEF and UNFPA, as well as in the Camp Coordination and Camp Management, CCCM/Shelter/Non Food Items (NFI) Sector, in collaboration with IOM, and in support of the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator and the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator in Maiduguri.

UNHCR’s traditional Government partner is NCFRMI, which collaborates on refugee matters has been key to the preservation of the asylum space in Nigeria. This collaboration needs to be strengthened consistently.