The World Bank has approved $300 million for a new project designed to improve access to services and economic opportunities for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and their host communities in northern Nigeria.
In a statement on Monday, the bank said the initiative — known as the Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project (SOLID) — was approved on August 7 and will adopt an integrated development strategy to help affected populations transition from humanitarian aid to self-reliance and resilience.
The World Bank noted that conflict and insecurity in the region have displaced more than 3.5 million people, placing severe strain on infrastructure and fuelling competition for scarce resources. SOLID will build on past government and partner efforts, including the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP), which focused on emergency recovery.
According to the bank, the project will prioritise climate-resilient infrastructure, social cohesion, livelihoods, and institutional capacity to better address forced displacement.
“This initiative has tremendous potential to help Nigeria address the development challenges of protracted displacement in a sustainable way,” said Mathew Verghis, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria. “Its integrated approach, aligned with the National IDP Policy and the Federal Government’s long-term development vision, will enable IDPs and host communities to move from dependence to self-reliance.”
The bank estimates the project will benefit up to 7.4 million people — including 1.3 million IDPs — and will be implemented through a coordinated, community-driven approach involving all levels of government and international partners.
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