The Borno State Government has embarked on registration of all
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), International NGOs (INGOs) and
humanitarian organisations for better coordination of their activities
in the Boko Haram ravaged parts of the North East Nigeria.
This is coming as the Key actors gathered to discuss coordinated
response to humanitarian and development efforts in the region.
This was disclosed on Wednesday in Abuja by the Special Advisor and
Coordinator, Sustainable Development, Partnerships and Humanitarian
Support, Borno State Government, Dr. Mairo Mandara, at the
Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (HDP) High-Level Advocacy Meeting
organised by Search for Common Ground (SFCG). The dialogue is funded by
the French Embassy Nigeria with support from the British Council and
European Union with peace building as the core factor of it’s advocacy
point.
Mandara explained that the registration is very critical at this stage
of the humanitarian efforts in the State and other parts of the North
East affected by the insurgency as it will enable the government know
what the NGOs are doing and ensure accountability in their works.
According to her as the host state and communities where such activities
are taking place it is their responsibility to not only ensure that the
security of the humanitarian and development organisations are
guaranteed but to also monitor how the funds meant for such purposes are
being expended.
She said: “The registration is very important as this will assist us to
know who we are dealing with, what you are doing and where you are
because if you do not registered we cannot be held accountable for any
mishap or security issues.
“Yes we are your host and you are our guest and we take our job
seriously because when you state all the activities you carry out to
your donors we also need to be able to identify with these activities
mentioned and also state the presence of these things carried out. We
are also responsible to your donors not just you because these
activities has to be accounted for. The registration is not going to be
anything different but just for you to engage us with the activities of
your organisation so we can have an effective coordination.”
Also Mandara in her keynote address stated the need to include the
natives in the humanitarian efforts, especially the youth and women as
they are the most affected in this situation.
She went further to state that activities should have an area-based
approach as every community is unique in it’s culture and crisis.
She said “community involvement is not just visiting the local heads but
a deep respect of the people it also involves empathy and respect for
their culture. Knowing and understanding the manner and way the people
which they have come to assist thinks and showing respect in their ways
of dealing”.
She went further to state that the INGOs can also assist the IDPs in
reintegrating into the safe areas of the state as the government already
has a 25-year robust plan of reintegration for the crisis ridden
communities.
Speaking, the SFCG Country Director, Mr. Sher Ali Nawaz, said the
dialogue is aimed to address the need for peaceful reintegration and
development in Borno State.
Nawaz said the process which is ongoing is aimed at improving
coordination and synergy between the humanitarian and peace building
actors working with the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the
state.
To this end, he reiterated the need to improve the coordination of
humanitarian as well as development efforts and to have a better
working relationship with the government in dealing with the crisis
situation of the state.
“It is very important as it enables all the actors to have a better
communication channel as through dialogue many reasons angles and
information to a crisis is brought forward and together to have a more
meaningful and broad consultations,” Nawaz stated.
In the same vein, the Cooperation Attaché of the French Embassy in
Nigeria, Mr. Elois Ellien, explained the need to involve all the actors
in the crisis area.
Ellien stated that the French Embassy is “focused on helping the people
suffering in the North East and through this partner we are able to
address as well as have a better understanding of the context and
seeing a way to enhance the impact”.
The HDP also involves community reconciliation and resilience building
project in some IDP camps. The 14-Month project, running from September
2018 – October 2019 is aimed to support the peaceful reintegration of
IDPs in North East Nigeria and improve coordination and synergy between
humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding actors working with IDPs in
Borno state