Brief Introduction About CARE International in Nigeria
Officially registered in April 2017, CARE is in its fourth year, operating in Nigeria. The bulk of its programming is currently in the conflict affected Northeast, with some peace-building and food security (Ag) programming in the Northwest. In August 2017, CARE Nigeria developed its first Emergency Response Strategy (2017-2018) guided by and aligned with CI 2020 Program Strategy and the CI Humanitarian Strategy. This Emergency Strategy has guided the Country Office (CO) in mobilizing resources for three key programming areas: Food Nutrition Security and Livelihoods (FNSL), Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and a Life Free from Violence (LFFV); (Gender-based violence (GBV) Prevention and Response). CARE Nigeria continues to build its reputation for quality programming in these core areas and will prioritize these going forward.
Since commencing operations, the CO has undergone a number of different analysis related to its Country Presence Review (CPR) and its Emergency Preparedness Planning (EPP) in particular. With the conclusion of its 1-year Emergency Response Strategy, it was timely for the CO to both reflect on its lessons and achievements and plan for the next 3 years with the aim to have one overarching strategy to guide the CO program. Analyses from the CPR and EPP were important for this reflection and planning.
The following CARE Nigeria Program Strategy is complemented and informed by the COs EPP and the CPR process currently underway, along with the West Africa Region’s Impact Growth Strategy (Women on the Move). This 3-year strategy is meant to guide the CO in its programming decisions across the humanitarian-development continuum (including early recovery, building resilience and peacebuilding). Gender integration and the empowerment of women and girls is a strategic focus of CARE Nigeria’s Program Strategy. The Strategy will be reviewed annually and adjusted/2adapted as necessary based on sound contextual and underlying causes of poverty analysis. The CPR and subsequent Business Planning process in particular will be a critical reference for Strategy review and adaptation going forward.