Transitioning From Humanitarian Relief to Long-Term Development: Addressing the Herdsmen-Farmers Conflict in Nigeria

The struggle between herders and farmers in Nigeria over farmland and pasture is a serious and escalating conflict registering huge casualties and raising tensions particularly in the country’s Middle Belt. Drought and desertification in the north have forced pastoralist herdsmen to seek grazing lands further south resulting in competition over resources and clashes with settled farmers. Moreover, they result in significant loss of lives and livelihoods, undermine food security, permit the proliferation of small arms, displace large numbers of people, and divert resources meant for development. Vulnerable groups such as women, children and youth, IDPs, and indigenous people are particularly impacted.

The overall goal of the programme is to support Nigeria’s response to end the conflict between herdsmen and farmers in Benue and Nasarawa States through an integrated and comprehensive response that bridges the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. Specifically, it aims to: (i) reduce vulnerability of affected persons through community-based strategies that enhance the ability of communities to identify and mitigate risks; (ii) expand livelihoods and establish synergies between farming and livestock activities; (iii) prevent violent conflicts and build peace through local peace committees that foster dialogue, reconciliation and social cohesion; (iv) enhance coherence of legislative and policy frameworks, and develop a multi-stakeholder platform for a holistic, human security-based response to the crisis.

KEY MATERIALS
Programme Summary
Factsheet on the Peace Project
Leaflet on the Peace Project
Human Interest Stories
Newsletter (April 2020)
Article: UNDP takes “Peace Project” to communities in Benue State | United Nations Development Programme
Article: Peace Project: UNDP provides early recovery support to curb the herdsmen-farmers crisis | United Nations Development Programme​
Article: Benue State Peace Commission Bill Signed into Law | United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)​
Article: UNDP commences peace building dialogue for Nasarawa, Benue, Taraba – Blueprint Newspapers Limited: Breaking news happening now in Nigeria and todays latest newspaper headlines

Using the human security approach, the programme brings together the humanitarian-development-peace nexus into one comprehensive framework where community-based protection efforts reinforce livelihood and empowerment activities that are linked to peacebuilding activities and national and regional frameworks and processes. By doing so, it adopts a people-centered approach in assessing the political economy surrounding the conflict, builds synergies across activities to create incentives for peaceful coexistence and sustainable development, and supports longer-term preventive capacities at the community, national and regional levels.