The devastating dam break in Konduga LGA, Maiduguri, Borno State, in September 2024, displaced over 400,000 households, causing significant loss of lives and widespread destruction. In response to this acute crisis and the ongoing insecurity in Northeast Nigeria, Oxfam, in partnership with national organizations; Christian Rural and Urban Development Association of Nigeria (CRUDAN) and the Centre for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiative (CATAI), launched the Nigeria Floods Response project in September 2024 with support from Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA).

The Context: 
Before the intervention, communities in Borno State, particularly in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Jere, and Konduga LGAs, faced immense challenges. Families like Hauwa Musa's, a 60-year-old groundnut cake and oil vendor from Usmanti-Dalori, had already struggled to make ends meet. The floods compounded their hardship, sweeping away homes, belongings, and livelihoods, leaving them with nothing. Sanitation was severely impacted, with destroyed homes and unusable toilets, exposing communities to health risks. Access to safe water was limited, and poor hygiene practices exacerbated the vulnerability to disease outbreaks. Children were left without school uniforms, severely affecting their ability to attend school.

The Solution: A Coordinated and Comprehensive Intervention 
The Nigeria Floods Response project aimed to provide life-saving assistance, restore dignity, and improve the well-being of affected individuals and families. The project ran from September 23rd, 2024, to March 22nd, 2025, with a budget of €480,598. Oxfam and its partners implemented a multi-faceted approach: 

  • Unconditional Multi-Purpose Cash Transfers (MPCT): 2,000 households (17,143 people) received cash transfers, providing them with the flexibility to address their most urgent needs, such as food and minor shelter repairs. The MPCT intervention was found to be 95% effective. Khadija, a participant with a disability, stated that the cash assistance was "a lifeline in her darkest moments" and allowed her to buy food and clothing, giving her "a sense of control over her recovery". Muhammad Ali, whose shop and home were destroyed, also shared, "At one point, we had nothing to eat. This support came when we needed it the most".
  • Distribution of Essential Non-Food Items (NFIs): 3,000 households (25,228 people) received vital items, including blankets, mats, mosquito nets, cooking equipment, and other necessary household items. This support was crucial for families who had lost everything. Hauwa Musa expressed her gratitude, saying, "At least now, I can feed my children" after receiving cooking equipment. Fatima Adamu, a tailor who lost her livelihood, received items that "gave her family warmth, comfort, and the ability to cook meals again, small but powerful steps toward recovery". Ngubdo Mohammed Kwasani highlighted the importance of mosquito nets: "If not for these mosquito nets, we don't know what would have become of us with the number of mosquitoes after the flood. The hygiene items have been incredibly useful, and we are still using them today".
  • Improved Access to Safe Water and Sanitation (WASH):
    • Borehole Rehabilitation: Six boreholes were rehabilitated, providing 12,594 people with access to clean water.
    • Latrine Cleaning Kits: 1,700 households received latrine cleaning kits, which included items like water hoses, jerry cans, and disinfectants, significantly improving hygiene in their homes.
    • Hygiene Promotion Campaigns: 26,320 people were reached through door-to-door hygiene promotion and awareness-raising activities, utilizing culturally appropriate formats like local-language dramas to ensure messages were well-received. Hussaina Salisu, a charcoal businesswoman, transformed her home's hygiene practices after a visit from a hygiene promoter and proudly showed her new waste collection area and diligently maintained toilet. Hafsat Mohammed also saw her home become cleaner, her children healthier, and even her chicks stopped dying after implementing advice from a hygiene promoter: "The advice from the hygiene promoter has truly changed our lives. My home is cleaner, my children are healthier, and even my chicks are not dying like before".
  • Community Participation, Accountability, and Protection: Community Project Implementation Committees (CPICs) were established, involving 64 affected persons in project planning and monitoring. Inclusive feedback mechanisms, including suggestion boxes, voice recorders, in-person help desks, and a dedicated phone line, were set up to ensure concerns were heard and addressed. Safeguarding training and awareness sessions on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) were also conducted for staff and community volunteers.
  • Localization: The project prioritized working with national partners, CRUDAN and CATAI, leveraging their deep contextual knowledge, established networks, and rapid mobilization capabilities to ensure effective and culturally appropriate interventions.

The Changes Seen: A Path Towards Recovery and Dignity 
The project exceeded its original target, assisting 8,760 households (68,691 individuals). The interventions brought about significant positive changes:

  • Restored Dignity and Hope: For individuals like Hauwa Musa, the essential non-food items, including cooking equipment and mats, enabled her to prepare meals for her children again, a simple act that "filled her with gratitude and hope". Binta Ibrahim, whose farm, home, and belongings were destroyed, found that the support "restored her dignity and hope".
  • Improved Hygiene and Health: Latrine cleaning kits significantly improved household hygiene, and increased access to clean water through rehabilitated boreholes reduced the risk of waterborne diseases. Hygiene promotion campaigns led to tangible improvements in household cleanliness and health outcomes, as exemplified by Hafsat Mohammed, who saw her home become cleaner, her children healthier, and even her chicks stopped dying after implementing advice from a hygiene promoter.
  • Increased Resilience and Self-Sufficiency: MPCT provided beneficiaries with the flexibility to address diverse needs, including food and minor shelter repairs, allowing families to prioritize their recovery efforts. Khadija's story highlights how the cash assistance gave her "a sense of control over her recovery".
  • Enhanced Community Engagement and Accountability: The establishment of Community Project Implementation Committees fostered a sense of ownership and increased transparency, ensuring that the voices of affected persons were integral to the project's design, delivery, and monitoring. Ngubdo Mohammed Kwasani appreciated the "organized and fair distribution process" and noted that "special considerations were given to individuals with unique needs".

The Nigeria Floods Response project demonstrated the profound impact of coordinated, community-centered humanitarian assistance. While immediate needs were met, these interventions also laid the groundwork for longer-term recovery and enhanced the dignity and well-being of thousands affected by the floods. Continued support is crucial to help families like Hauwa Musa's fully recover and rebuild their lives, especially in areas like education for children.

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Humanitarian Interventions