Humanitarian Affairs
Since 2014, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has supported humanitarian efforts in Northeast Nigeria. The Humanitarian Aid Unit of the Swiss Embassy in Abuja, composed of a Humanitarian Advisor and a National Programme Officer, oversees Switzerland’s humanitarian portfolio, which complements the peace promotion and dialogue facilitation efforts undertaken by Switzerland’s Peace and Human Rights Division. Switzerland’s approach is principled, field-based, and aligned with humanitarian needs and international frameworks.
The Swiss humanitarian engagement in Nigeria for the period 2024 – 2026 focuses on three objectives:
- Humanitarian Aid: address the urgent needs of conflict-affected people, through food security and protection interventions. The support focuses on child protection, sexual and gender-based violence, the provision of livelihoods and the increasing localization of aid delivery through the strengthening of local NGOs and funding mechanisms.
- Durable Solutions: support people affected by displacement to rebuild their lives, particularly in Yobe State where government-led initiatives offer promising ground.
- Advocacy and Coordination: promote stronger protection for civilians and strengthen collaboration across humanitarian, peace and development efforts – especially as the UN prepares for a transition to national leadership of the humanitarian response.
Switzerland is a strong advocate for locally led cooperation in Nigeria, supporting local NGOs through direct funding and institutional capacity strengthening. Its contribution to the UN Country-Based Pooled Fund, managed by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), enables rapid and flexible responses that are increasingly implemented by local partners. In Nigeria, Switzerland partners with ICRC, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and governmental institutions.
