The Government of Japan, in collaboration with IITA, has initiated a project to assist internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Abuja in achieving self-reliance and generating employment opportunities. IDPs continue to receive emergency humanitarian assistance to feed themselves for the year, and it has been more than ten years since they could start a new, independent life. On the other hand, the lack of employment opportunities and sources of income, and their continued dependence on assistance for their livelihoods, has led to a loss of independence and the need for measures to support self-reliance.
To overcome the IDP situation, the project supports employment opportunities for IDPs without job opportunities. The project has established a labor dispatch union, which sends IDPs as temporary workers to farmers facing labor shortages. The activities provide IDPs with cash income through agricultural work and meals during deployment. From June to October 2024, IDPs were sent to farmers as temporary workers and received assistance with meals during their deployment and a cash income.
In addition, the project provided 1.5 tonnes of tubers of high-yielding improved varieties to a group of yam farmers in Kwali, struggling with rising labor and material costs. Farmers are implementing yam cultivation with the provided agricultural input and the support of displaced temporary workers sent by the labor dispatch union. It is possible to assist IDPs and farmers by providing employment opportunities and temporary sources of income to IDPs and by supporting farmers with free labor and agricultural inputs, thus contributing to self-reliance for IDPs and food security in the targeted areas.
The project also supports agricultural materials (improved seeds and fertilizers) for IDP farmers who borrow farmland to cultivate for themselves. In addition to supporting agricultural materials, KANPAN was distributed to IDP farmers as temporary food aid. In Japan, KANPAN is regarded as a valuable emergency food during disasters. It can be stored for extended periods, doesn’t need cooking, has a solid texture, and provides satiety. Temporary food and agriculture material support for IDP farmers will help increase their working vitality and support their return to work.
Agriculture-based IDP-supported projects have the potential to contribute to increased employment and agricultural production. The project will also help strengthen the country’s agricultural sector by encouraging IDPs to become self-reliant and return to agriculture
Contributed by Ryo Matsumoto
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