Desk Review GBV Partners and Programming in Northeast Nigeria – May 2025

By Tahir Ali Shah

Executive Summary:

This desk review (DR) is based on my previous Desk Revive August 2019 , bThis desk review provides an updated analysis of Gender Based Violence (GBV)  prevention and response in Northeast Nigeria, focusing on Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY States)  as of May 2025.  Building on the reports and assessments of different organizations operating BAY states. It highlights critical progress and persistent challenges within a crisis that disproportionately affects women and girls among the 8.4 million people in need.

Key findings show that while GBV services have expanded in urban centers, vast rural and hard-to-reach areas remain underserved due to insecurity and poor infrastructure. Coordination efforts, particularly through the UNFPA-led GBV Sub-Sector Working Group, have improved, though coordination remains stronger in Borno than in Adamawa and Yobe. Local women-led organizations have been strengthened through initiatives like WRAPA, yet their sustainability heavily relies on external funding. The Humanitarian Lacalization Imperative

Despite increased use of the GBV Information Management System (GBV IMS+) , challenges persist in harmonized reporting and consent protocols. The review underscores significant funding volatility, with a projected decline in 2025, leading to program suspensions and a substantial funding gap of $3,759,598 impacting 23 partners. Other challenges include caseworker burnout, donor influence on program priorities, and limited long-term programming.

The report recommends increasing multi-year, flexible funding, strengthening national NGO leadership, expanding community-based outreach, and enhancing Cross Sectoral Referrals . It also calls for improved quality assurance for case management and a review of donor requirements to allow for more context-adapted programming. Ultimately, while the GBV response has evolved, persistent access barriers and underfunding continue to hinder a fully effective and sustainable approach.

Introduction

Since the onset of the Boko Haram.  conflict in 2009, the Humanitarian Crisis  in Northeast Nigeria has remained one of the most protracted and complex emergencies globally. As of May 2025, an estimated 8.4 million people remain in need of humanitarian assistance across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states, with women and girls disproportionately affected by gender-based violence (GBV).¹ While humanitarian actors continue to deliver critical protection services, the GBV subsector faces major challenges in coordination, service coverage, funding predictability, and access, especially in hard-to-reach areas controlled by non-state actors or affected by ongoing insecurity.²

This desk review presents a comprehensive mapping and analysis of GBV implementing partners, coordination mechanisms, gaps, and trends in Northeast Nigeria, building on the previous 2019 report and incorporating updated information available as of May 2025. It focuses on operational presence, service availability, donor support, and collaboration within the GBV Sub-Sector Working Group. The findings are based on secondary sources, including OCHA and UNFPA datasets, Nigeria 5Ws, HRP documents, and public partner updates.

GBV Partner Matrix – Northeast Nigeria (As of May 2025):

Partner Name	Type	Location(s)	Services Provided	Donor(s)	Funding Amount (USD)	2024 Funding	2025 Funding	Notes
UNFPA	UN Agency	Borno, Adamawa, Yobe	GBV case management, dignity kits, coordination support	CERF, ECHO, Canada, UN pooled funds	$9.5 million	(CERF, ECHO)	(Canada, pooled)	Consistent lead agency; pooled funding through HRP
IRC	INGO	Borno (MMC, Jere, Gwoza)	Safe spaces, psychosocial support, referrals	USAID, ECHO	$6.2 million	(USAID, ECHO)	(ECHO)	Strong donor continuity
Mercy Corps	INGO	Borno, Adamawa	Women's protection & empowerment, GBV risk mitigation	FCDO, BHA	$4.8 million	(BHA)	(FCDO)	Focus on empowerment and mitigation
Neem Foundation	National NGO	Yobe, Borno	MHPSS, GBV prevention, survivor services	Private donors, UNDP	$1.1 million	Ongoing (Private donors)	(UNDP)	Private donors assumed flexible; UNDP in 2025
Plan International	INGO	Borno, Yobe	Youth-focused GBV response, life skills, SRHR education	EU, UNICEF	$3.7 million	(UNICEF)	(EU)	Focus on youth GBV and SRHR
FHI 360	INGO	Borno (Ngala, Dikwa)	GBV case management, health referrals, mobile outreach	BHA, ECHO	$2.9 million	(ECHO)	(BHA)	Service delivery in remote LGAs
Save the Children	INGO	Borno, Yobe	Adolescent-friendly GBV prevention, child protection linkages	ECHO, BHA, Norway	$4.2 million	(ECHO, BHA)	(Norway)	Integrated GBV and child protection
Street Child	INGO	Borno, Adamawa	Community sensitization, women-led CSO capacity-building	FCDO	$1.6 million	✔	✔	Community sensitization; support for CSOs
ROHI Foundation	National NGO	Borno	Faith-based GBV dialogue, male engagement	UN Women	$850,000		✔	Funded in 2025 under male engagement & faith-based approaches
Nigerian Red Cross	National NGO	Adamawa, Borno	First-line support, dignity kits, referrals	IFRC, ICRC	$1.9 million	✔	✔	First-line GBV response and basic referrals

Key Findings: GBV Practices & Challenges in Northeast Nigeria (2020 - May 2025)

This section details the prevailing practices and challenges observed in GBV prevention and response during the period of protracted crisis and evolving humanitarian strategies.

Category	Specific Focus / Practice	Key Data / Quantitative Insight	Impact & Notes
Humanitarian Context	People in Need (BAY states)	8.4 million (as of May 2025)	Conflict persists, driving significant humanitarian needs. Women and girls remain disproportionately affected by GBV.
Response Evolution & Programming	Dignity Kit Distribution (estimated cumulative)	300,000+ kits (across various partners)	Ongoing provision of essential hygiene items, crucial for dignity and GBV risk mitigation.
	Formal Safe Spaces (UNFPA supported)	48+ dedicated spaces (as of Jan 2025)	Expansion of secure locations offering integrated services for women and girls.
	Multi-sectoral Integration	-	Stronger linkages with Health, MHPSS, Child Protection, Livelihoods, and Legal Aid for comprehensive survivor support.
	Localization Initiatives	23 local GBV partners (affected by US funding freeze in 2025)	Enhanced capacity-building for national/local NGOs (e.g., WRAPA initiatives), but sustainability remains fragile due to reliance on external funding.
	Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) for GBV	Increasing trend	Used more frequently for economic empowerment, reducing vulnerabilities and negative coping mechanisms, increasingly recognized as a GBV risk mitigation and response tool.
	Mobile Outreach Teams	-	Deployed to address access constraints in remote and hard-to-reach areas, improving service penetration beyond urban centers.
	Community-Led & Specialized Approaches	-	Greater emphasis on community ownership, male engagement, and faith-based dialogues for prevention and awareness. Increased focus on adolescent-friendly programming and PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) accountability mechanisms.
Key Challenges & Gaps	2024 GBV Funding Gap (HRP)	Only 38% of requirements met (as of April 2025)	Significant underfunding persists, impacting overall response capacity and the ability to meet the vast needs.
	Projected 2025 Funding Decline	$3,759,598 gap (due to US funding freeze impacting 23 GBV partners)	Substantial reduction in available funds threatens program continuity and critical service delivery, leading to suspensions.
	Caseworker Caseloads	Above SPHERE standards (reported in some LGAs)	Leads to increased caseworker burnout, stress, and potential compromise of service quality, affecting survivor-centered care.
	Access Barriers	Persistent	Insecurity (attacks on convoys, curfews, roadblocks) and poor infrastructure continue to severely limit reach to vulnerable populations in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
	Data Harmonization (GBVIMS+)	Ongoing challenges	Despite increased use of GBVIMS+, consistent reporting and strict adherence to survivor consent protocols remain critical for accurate data and ethical practice.
	Long-Term Programming	Largely short-term	Limited investment in sustainable, recovery-oriented interventions and community ownership, hindering durable solutions.
	Staffing Shortages	Lack of trained female staff	Particularly in rural areas, affecting culturally sensitive and survivor-centered service delivery and limiting trust-building.
	Donor Influence	-	Rigid donor templates and indicators sometimes hinder context-adapted and survivor-driven programming, leading to less effective interventions.
	Referral Pathway Barriers	-	Despite the presence of referral Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), weak transport systems and a lack of consistent survivor follow-up hinder timely multi-sectoral referrals, delaying comprehensive support.

Key Findings

·       Coverage and Gaps: While partner presence has grown in urban centers such as Maiduguri and Yola, rural and hard-to-reach LGAs remain underserved. GBV mobile outreach teams have mitigated some access constraints, yet insecurity and poor infrastructure continue to limit service reach.

·       Coordination Improvements: The GBV Sub-Sector Working Group (SSWG), led by UNFPA, now holds monthly joint meetings, improving partner coordination, referrals, and case documentation. Coordination is stronger in Borno than in Adamawa and Yobe.

·       Localization and Capacity-Building: Initiatives such as the Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative WRAPA Project  have helped strengthen local women-led organizations. Nonetheless, long-term sustainability remains dependent on continued external funding.

·       Data and Case Management: Use of the GBV Information Management System (GBVIMS+) has increased, but challenges remain with harmonized reporting and survivor consent protocols.

·       Funding Volatility: Despite increased pledges from donors such as ECHO and BHA, year-on-year funding fluctuations threaten the continuity of GBV Services ³

·       Quality of Case Management: In some LGAs, caseworkers report high caseloads (Above SPHERE Standards) burnout and compromised service quality.

·       Donor Influence on Program Priorities: Feedback from national NGOs indicates that rigid donor templates and indicators sometimes hinder context-adapted programming.

Coordination Mechanisms

The GBV Sub-Sector Working Group coordinates all actors working on GBV prevention, response, and risk mitigation. Sub-national coordination hubs exist in Maiduguri, Yola, and Damaturu. UNFPA chairs the working group, with technical support from IRC and Plan International. Cross-sectoral linkages with child protection, health, and CCCM clusters have been moderately effective, especially during emergency influxes. Coordination challenges include language barriers among local actors, under-representation of national NGOs in leadership roles, and fragmented donor reporting requirements.

Challenges

·       Insecurity and Access Restrictions: Attacks on humanitarian convoys, curfews, and roadblocks continue to hinder GBV service delivery in Gwoza, Marte, and parts of northern Yobe. Humanitarian Response in Conflict Zones – Are we Failing

·       Cultural and Religious Sensitivities: GBV services often clash with conservative gender norms, requiring adapted messaging and trust-building within communities.

·       Underfunding of GBV Services: GBV programming receives a fraction of overall protection funding. As of April 2025, only 38% of GBV requirements in the 2024 Nigeria HRP had been met.⁴

·       Limited Long-Term Programming: Projects remain largely short-term, with inadequate investment in system strengthening, community ownership, and recovery-oriented GBV interventions.

·       Limited Availability of Trained Staff: There is a shortage of female GBV caseworkers in rural LGAs, which affects survivor-centered service delivery.

·       Barriers to Effective Referral Pathways: Despite the presence of referral SOPs, weak transport systems and lack of survivor follow-up hinder timely multi-sector referrals.

Conclusion and Recommendations

GBV response in Northeast Nigeria has evolved considerably since 2019, with improved coordination, partner diversification, and stronger local engagement. However, persistent access barriers, underfunding, The Great Aid Shift  and limited service reach continue to hinder a fully effective and sustainable GBV response. Key recommendations include:

1.       Increase multi-year, flexible funding for GBV programs.

2.       Strengthen national NGO participation and leadership within GBV coordination.

3.       Expand mobile and community-based outreach in hard-to-reach LGAs.

4.       Enhance cross-sectoral referrals, especially between health, MHPSS, and GBV actors.

5.       Institutionalize GBV risk mitigation within food security, shelter, and WASH programming.

6.       Improve quality assurance and supervision systems for GBV case management.

7.       Review and adapt donor requirements to allow context-specific and survivor-driven programming.

8.       Increase training and recruitment of female GBV staff, especially in underserved LGAs.

References

1.       UNFPA Nigeria. "Nigeria Situation Report - January 2025." February 2025. Link

2.       UNFPA Nigeria. "Nigeria Situation Report - April 2025." April 2025. Link

3.       ReliefWeb. "Gender Based Violence - Nigeria." Accessed May 2025. Link

4.       CARE International. "16 Days of Activism: How women in Nigeria are tackling violence against women and girls." December 2024. Link

5.       UNFPA Nigeria. "UNFPA Nigeria Situation Report - March 2025." March 2025. Link

6.       Financial Tracking Service (FTS). "Nigeria 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan – GBV Funding Overview." April 2025. Link

7.       ReliefWeb. "Call to Action - On Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies." May 2025. Link

8.       UNHCR. "Nigeria: Gender-Based Violence Sub Sector Working Group (GBV SWG) - Compendium of meeting minutes, 2016-2022." Accessed May 2025. Link

9.       UNFPA Nigeria. "Gender-based violence." Accessed May 2025. Link