Nigeria, Action Contre la Faim, Provision of life-saving nutrition and WASH services to reduce morbidity and mortality in Northwest Nigeria

Since 2014, Nigeria’s Northwest has been the scene of spiralling insecurity, instability, and subsequent displacement, against a backdrop of chronic and extreme poverty and the effects and looming threat of climate change. This nexus of conflict, climate, and poverty is increasing increase and intensifying humanitarian needs. 25 million people in Nigeria are expected to be food insecure in the lean season period (June-August 2023), and the Northwest region has the highest rates of food insecurity and malnutrition in the country, with more than half of local government areas (LGAs) classified as “critically food insecure”. Nearly 3.9 million children aged 0- 59 months in the Northwest are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition. Despite these figures, the region is severely underserved by humanitarian actors and is not included in the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), which focuses on Northeast Nigeria (Lake Chad conflict). 

This proposal aims to address malnutrition through Nutrition and WASH interventions in two local government areas (LGAs) of Sokoto State, Nigeria’s poorest state (91% poverty rate compared to a national average of 40%).

• Pregnant and lactating women
• Severely and moderately malnourished children and their caregivers
• Male and female frontline health workers
• Communities affected by violence
• Vulnerable households with malnourished children having poor sanitation facilities 

Outcome 1: Improved access to timely and quality treatment of severely acute malnourished children aged 0 to 59 months through integrated management of acute malnutrition approach (IMAM);

Outcome 2: Improved knowledge and practices of pregnant and lactating women/ caregivers of children aged 0-59 months on optimum maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN) practices through support groups;

Outcome 3: Improved access to the WASH services for severely acute malnourished (SAM) beneficiaries and care givers

Expected results:  

• 27,686 children (13,289 boys; 14,397 girls) will be screened for malnutrition status. 
• 3,956 children (1,899 boys; 2,057 girls) will be admitted and treated in OTPs for SAM without complications.
• 15,821 pregnant and lactating women and caregivers with children 6-23 months will receive skilled and group MIYCN counselling.
• 6,000 people have access to safe water from 6 water points.
• 20,000 people reached with gender-sensitive hygiene promotion for improved nutrition outcomes.