The collaborative efforts between the United States and Nigeria to address and mitigate conflict drivers in northern and middle-belt Nigeria, encompassing ethnic, regional, and sectarian tensions within communities, were highlighted in a recent statement by the US Embassy in Nigeria.
According to the statement, over the course of the last five years, the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed $15 million to the Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) program. This initiative has provided training to over 46,000 community members, including traditional leaders, women, men, and youth, across six states – Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, and Plateau – focusing on skills such as dispute resolution, early warning and early response, reconciliation efforts, and prevention of violent extremism.
Furthermore, the statement highlighted the significant impact of the CIPP program in mitigating violent conflict in at-risk communities and engaging women and youth in peace processes. A randomized control trial comparing the program’s effectiveness in target communities with nearby control communities revealed notable results. Despite an overall increase in violence in states like Plateau and Benue, communities where USAID intervened experienced lower levels of violent conflict. For instance, after four years of implementation, only 29 percent of CIPP treatment communities reported violent incidents, compared to 55 percent in control communities, marking a significant difference of 26 percent.
Melissa Jones, the USAID Mission Director, emphasized the effectiveness of the CIPP activity in yielding substantial dividends, stating that a timely investment in peace can lead to remarkable outcomes. She noted that individuals trained in conflict mediation skills across Nigeria’s Middle Belt have successfully resolved numerous disputes before they escalated further.
In line with its closeout plan, USAID announced the transfer of certain CIPP community structures, such as Conflict Mitigation Regional Councils and Women Peace Councils, to its new Peace Action for Rapid and Transformative Nigerian Early Response activity. This strategic move aims to ensure continuity and sustained progress in the joint mission to promote peace and security in the northern and middle-belt regions.
