Fijishi is committed to supporting a transition towards comprehensive, evidence-based, and durable solutions to displacement. This involves providing humanitarian assistance while simultaneously prioritizing the protection and resilience of displaced populations and host communities. By addressing urgent needs and fostering sustainable recovery, Fijishi aims to strengthen social cohesion, enhance local capacities, and integrate displaced populations into broader development efforts.
Nigeria continues to face a severe humanitarian and protection crisis, particularly in the North East, North Central, and North West, affecting millions over the past 13 years. In the North East, conflicts involving non-state armed groups (NSAGs) and military operations have caused extensive displacement and human rights abuses. In the North West, escalating farmer-herder conflicts, criminal activities, and climate impacts, such as floods and droughts, have worsened the situation. Similarly, intercommunal conflicts over land and water resources, along with frequent flooding in the North Central region, especially in Benue State, further contribute to the persistent crisis. These crises accentuate protection risks, especially for women and girls, by heightening the risks of violence, neglect, deliberate deprivation, discrimination, abuse, and exploitation. Migrants, displaced populations and affected communities, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), may be exposed to protection risks such as gender-based violence (GBV) and increased risk of trafficking due to the situations compelling them to leave their homes, the circumstances in which they travel, or the conditions they face on arrival.
Communities in these regions endure a multitude of human rights abuses, including killings, abductions, rape, and torture, including perpetrated by non-state armed groups. These violations exacerbate pre-existing issues such as food insecurity, malnutrition, water shortages, and insufficient access to sanitation, housing, and healthcare services. Women and girls are especially at risk, with a significant surge in GBV. Climate change remains a key factor driving displacement, further increasing the vulnerability of affected populations. Flooding has become a significant humanitarian challenge, affecting 31 states across Nigeria, including the BAY states in the North East and North West.
In responding to crises, Fijishi is engaged with a range of inter-agency, and bilateral coordination mechanisms at different levels to ensure a holistic and well-coordinated approach to humanitarian, development, peace building, and migration-related challenges. Furthermore, Fijishi is providing technical and operational support to the various levels of stakeholder engagement. Fijishi is also playing a leading role in the pursuit of durable solutions for displaced populations; developing comprehensive strategies for resolving displacement issues, supporting government-led initiatives aimed at addressing displacement through voluntary return, local integration, and relocation efforts. Across Nigeria, Fijishi is demonstrating significant capacity in managing protection interventions, with a focus on GBV risk mitigation, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and accountability to affected populations (AAP).
Through a gender-sensitive and inclusive lens, Fijishi provides targeted support to internally displaced persons, particularly those in camps or return areas facing insecurity, damaged infrastructure, and limited services. Fijishi also strengthens the capacities of local authorities, and CSOs through training and technical assistance to ensure continuity of essential services during crises. Fijishi monitors displacement trends, including its drivers, to enable data-driven decision-making. Fijishi also enhances information management systems, provides health, protection, mental health and psychological support and leads camp coordination, and non-food item distribution.