Nigeria, INSO, Improved protection of relief personnel and effectiveness of humanitarian action


The armed conflict in north-east Nigeria continues unabated, while the violence in the north-west has spiralled out of control, thus posing acute challenges to humanitarian aid. INSO enables humanitarian organisations to access safety services to improve their situational awareness and decision-making, and to strengthen their emergency preparedness and response. By supporting this initiative, SDC contributes to improved humanitarian access and effective assistance to conflict affected populations.   

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Nigeria
Humanitarian Assistance & DRR
nothemedefined
Protection, access & security
15.09.2024 - 31.12.2026
CHF  600’000
Background

The north-east Nigeria context remains very challenging for NGO operations. Activities of non-state armed groups (NSAGs) have been sustained, and while attacks against the Nigerian army have decreased, attacks or violence against civilians are on a steep rise. As a result, NGOs remain largely confined to providing assistance in “garrison towns” with military presence, while large swaths of territory, particularly in Borno State, remain inaccessible. In the north-west, the armed criminal groups popularly known as ‘bandits’, that wield sophisticated military-grade weapons, have been the major source of violence by carrying out mass abductions/kidnappings, killings, forced labour, illegal taxations, etc. NGOs operating there face an even more uncertain and volatile context than in the north-east, as security information has so far been much scarcer and not received in a structured manner.

This proposed intervention will continue to provide security information, analysis and advice to NGOs and support to their preparedness and response capacities in the north-east and will now avail similar services to NGOs in the north-west.  

Objectives Improved protection of relief personnel and improved effectiveness of humanitarian action.
Target groups 83 humanitarian NGOs, and least 5 local NGOs
Medium-term outcomes

Outcome 1: Credible, reliable and high-quality safety information, analysis and advice is provided to NGOs in a timely and appropriate manner.

Outcome 2: NGOs are supported in their own preparedness, security and crisis management capacity.

Results

Expected results:  

  • 135 security training courses delivered
  • 300 safety and security roundtables with humanitarian partners
  • 28 monthly reports, 9 quarterly reports and 106 weekly incident lists
  • Facilitated access to INSO services for local NGOs


Results from previous phases:  

  • Improved situational awareness and emergency preparedness and response for 83 INGOs, 8 UN Agencies, 7 donors, ICRC, IFRC. This was, amongst others, achieved through regular reports and alerts on security incidents and trends, and security meetings
  • In a satisfaction conducted in 2023, 87% of respondents indicated that INSO services help them plan, operate and deliver aid more safely
  • INSO launched its Conflict and Humanitarian Data Centre (CHDC), an online security incidents database, and a mobile application in April and June 2023, enabling partners to receive real-time alerts and access services


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
  • Other international or foreign NGO North
  • The International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO)


Coordination with other projects and actors

UN Agencies (OCHA, UNDSS), Cluster mechanisms (Access and Civil-Military Coordination)

Local authorities: Security-related ministries 

Donors: ECHO, FCDO, and BHA

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    600’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    142’500 Budget inclusive project partner CHF    6’409’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   1’500’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   2’100’000
Project phases Phase 5 15.09.2024 - 31.12.2026   (Current phase) Phase 4 01.03.2022 - 31.07.2024   (Completed) Phase 2 15.07.2017 - 31.05.2019   (Completed) Phase 1 15.08.2016 - 31.03.2017   (Completed)