Action Against Hunger Nigeria (ACF), in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), has introduced a new social protection initiative aimed at reaching and supporting around 1.4 million impoverished and vulnerable individuals in the conflict-stricken states of Borno and Adamawa.
The announcement of this project took place on Tuesday in Abuja at the start of a two-day external grant workshop for the Social and Economic Participation of Returnees, Internally Displaced Persons, and Host Communities (SEPIN SUSI) programme.
While the workshop continued into Wednesday, the first day primarily addressed how Nigeria’s social protection systems could more effectively reach at-risk households amid increasing food scarcity, displacement, and malnutrition in the northeastern region.
At the event, Thierno Diallo, the Country Director for ACF in Nigeria, highlighted the substantial scope of this intervention as a reflection of the severe vulnerabilities in the two states, where millions are at ongoing risk of hunger and acute malnutrition.
Mr. Diallo, represented by his Deputy, Andwalem Fekadu, noted that the Cadre Harmonisé analysis conducted in October 2025 estimated that at the end of that year, 1.92 million individuals in Borno and 1.21 million in Adamawa were suffering from crisis-level food insecurity or worse.
“Predictable and shock-responsive social protection is not a luxury but a necessity. Without robust mechanisms, households continue to descend further into poverty, hunger, and deprivation,” he remarked. He added that nearly 6.4 million children in northern Nigeria are experiencing acute malnutrition, with about two million facing severe acute malnutrition, particularly in Benue, Adamawa, and Yobe states, which are anticipated to see further declines during the 2026 lean season.
He also pointed out that while Nigeria possesses frameworks for social protection, implementation, financing, integration, and data management still present significant challenges.
“Our strategy has always been focused on fortifying systems, enhancing sustainable capacities, and ensuring that vulnerable households have access to reliable, equitable, and shock-responsive assistance,” he stated.
Expanding the social register
The initiative will focus on broadening, updating, and reinforcing state social registers in Borno and Adamawa, with an anticipated capture of about 1.4 million individuals.
GIZ's deputy commission manager for Supporting Sustainable Social Protection, Participation, and Economic Resilience in Northeast Nigeria, Aina Bolaji, expressed that the project aims to enhance both the reach and reliability of social protection mechanisms.
Bolaji explained that an effective, inclusive, and updated social register is crucial for shock-responsive social protection, accurate targeting, and the efficient distribution of public and donor resources. She emphasized that the expansion of the register will utilize geographical targeting, community-based evaluation, and proxy means testing, placing communities at the forefront in identifying eligible households.
“By engaging communities in the process, we can enhance transparency, accountability, and local legitimacy,” she stated, reinforcing that the project is about building durable state capacities rather than merely cataloging names.
“The true measure of our success will be assessed not just by how many individuals are recorded, but by how efficiently state systems are reinforced and whether the register is actually utilized to guide policy and social protection strategies,” she clarified.
During the workshop, she reiterated the shift from planning to implementation, outlining four concrete objectives: technical and operational alignment, consensus on equality standards and safeguards, clarity on implementation and risk mitigation strategies, and enhanced collaboration and communication pathways.
Bolaji clarified that GIZ acts as an implementing partner rather than a donor, stating that the agency collaborates closely with Action Against Hunger.
National register under pressure
In providing national context, Mohammed Bala, representing the National Social Register (NSR), indicated that Nigeria’s central database for impoverished and vulnerable households is currently unable to meet growing demands.
Bala stated that while the NSR holds information on roughly 19 million households, ongoing funding constraints limit updates and keep them incomplete.
“To date, we have validated at least one member from over 10 million households through the national identity system,” he confirmed.
Moreover, he indicated that the federal government aspires to include 15 million households, but only has current funding for 10.2 million, leaving a shortfall of 4.8 million households.
“This highlights the importance of partner-supported programs like this one; every additional entry into the social register alleviates the burden on federal resources,” he added.
He further mentioned that linking households to digital identities and geographic coordinates would enhance credibility, shifting social interventions towards digital payment systems rather than cash-based distributions.
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