The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation has approved a $2.9 million grant to support the rehabilitation of women and children affected by 15 years of Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State.
Speaking at the launch of the initiative, tagged PACT-LAB, Executive Director of the Centre for Advocacy, Transparency & Accountability Initiative, Abubakar Sadiq Muazu, expressed appreciation to the Swiss government for its support.
The funding will be directed towards community-led recovery projects in Bama, Gwoza, and Monguno—three of the most severely impacted local government areas.
“On behalf of the consortium and community members of Bama, Gwoza, and Monguno, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation for their generous funding and unwavering commitment to peace, empowerment, resilience, and human development,” Muazu said.
Muazu disclosed that the project aims to directly benefit over 20,000 people, while reaching an estimated 500,000 individuals through community-led awareness programs focused on child protection and gender-based violence.
According to Muazu, the project will strengthen local protection mechanisms to safeguard children and women from violence, abuse, and exploitation. It will also establish safe spaces, provide psychosocial support for trauma survivors, and equip young people with skills and education to enhance their livelihoods.
“This initiative is a shared commitment to the people of Bama, Gwoza, and Monguno—a promise that they are not forgotten, that their voices matter, and that we stand with them in solidarity,” he stated.
The 30-month program, backed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), is designed to strengthen child protection, gender-based violence prevention, and emergency education services in conflict-affected communities of Borno State.
Executive Director of Life at Best Development Initiative, Mrs. Ladi Clark, emphasized the importance of collaboration in achieving meaningful impact.
“By working together—government agencies, local organizations, and international partners—we aim to build a cohesive network of support that champions the rights and dignity of the most vulnerable in our society,” she said.
Also speaking, Executive Director of Borno State Civil Society Organizations, Comrade Bulama Abiso, stressed the critical role of local actors in ensuring the sustainability of the intervention.
“We will enhance their capacities to respond effectively to the needs of their communities, ensuring that interventions are culturally sensitive, inclusive, and community-driven,” he noted.
The initiative will align with the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan, ensuring coordinated efforts with relevant ministries, departments, and agencies to bridge gaps in humanitarian aid and development in Borno State.
The Director of Women Affairs in the ministry, Hajia Falmata Lawan expressed gratitude to the Swiss government for their gestures toward rehabilitating those who affected by insurgency, noting that the intervention would go a long way to provide succour to the victims of the crisis.
The project is spearheaded by a consortium of organizations, including CATAI, LABDI, Rise to Inspire Africa, Youth Integrated for Positive Development Initiative with technical support from Terre des Hommes (Tdh).
