IOM, Others Launch New Initiative For Peacebuilding, Community Resilience In Nigeria

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in partnership with Mercy Corps Netherlands and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), has officially launched the Conflict Prevention, Crisis Response and Resilience (CPCRR) Programme in Katsina State, North West Nigeria.

This was disclosed a statement on Friday  by the IOM, stressing that  the initiative was funded by the European Union,  and the 18-month programme will reach more than 95,000 people across ten local government Areas in Katsina and Zamfara States, helping communities move from crisis to recovery by tackling the drivers of conflict, restoring livelihoods, and strengthening inclusive governance.

“Displacement is not a life sentence”, Dimanche Sharon, IOM Nigeria chief of Mission, said stressing that “This programme is an investment in the people of Katsina and Zamfara, its youth, its women, men, persons living with disability and its future.

By addressing the root causes of conflict and restoring livelihoods, we can ensure that these states are not frontlines of crisis, but beacons of resilience and recovery,” she added.

Building on the achievements of the Conflict Mitigation and Community Reconciliation (CMCR) Programme, which concluded in January 2025, the new Programme comes at a critical time for Northwest Nigeria, where insecurity, inter-communal violence, and climate-related shocks have displaced more than 1.3 million people as at February 2025, the statement said.

The CPCRR Programme will focus on two key outcomes. First, peacebuilding and conflict prevention through the establishment of Community Peace and Resilience Committees, support for dialogues, early warning systems, and access to mental health and psychosocial services to help communities resolve disputes peacefully. Second, livelihood restoration and climate resilience by promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, vocational training, and Quick Impact Projects designed to reduce competition over natural resources, strengthen food security, and support economic recovery.

With communities at the centre of its design and implementation, the programme will contribute to reducing violence, strengthening trust in local governance, and fostering durable peace in one of Nigeria’s most affected regions. By integrating conflict prevention, livelihood recovery, and climate adaptation, the CPCRR Programme offers a comprehensive approach to breaking the cycle of violence and displacement, while reinforcing pathways to resilience.