In 2015, the majority of the IDPs population arising from the Boko Haram insurgency constituted 79 per cent of the IDPs population in Nigeria. These Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) including widowed women and children orphaned by the conflict, are largely catered for by international humanitarian Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and agencies of the United Nations, in collaboration with local and federal emergency relief agencies.
Despite the efforts of both the local and international humanitarian agencies, many of the internally displaced people are still exposed to debilitating hunger and disease conditions with little or no means of livelihood sustenance.
The Centre for the Study of Economies of Africa (CSEA) conducted an assessment of livelihood opportunities for IDPs in FCT Abuja to assess income-generating activities undertaken by IDPs, their vocational skills and training needs. Particularly, the survey entailed mapping out the market systems in project areas to; identify the current opportunities for skills and products; identify barriers to exploiting current opportunities and suggest ways in which IDPs can navigate them.
Subsequently, CSEA’s research findings will seek to:
1) provide specific relevant, and reliable advice to humanitarian organizations as to which areas of enterprise they can select, strengthen or diversify for the sustainable livelihood benefit to IDPs
2) Gather information on market demand and IDPs’ livelihood assets, and translate it into programming of capacity building interventions that respond to the unique business environment and IDP needs