Nigeria - Emergency Assistance to Support the Fight against Malnutrition in Borno State

This emergency assistance aimed at reducing malnutrition in Borno State is a response to the appeal of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) for international aid. On June 27th, 2016 the Nigerian Minister of Health declared a nutrition emergency in Borno State, followed by the West and Central African Regional Food Security and Nutrition Working Group who called the entire international community to step up and respond in order to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. The Bank’s intervention will strengthen the FGN's and partners' current efforts (UNICEF, WFP, OCHA, etc.) in the Northeast of the country. The emergency assistance project specifically focuses on Borno State where the situation is the most dramatic. Its mission consists of rationalizing funds and enhancing their efficiency. This intervention program is expected to reduce malnutrition rates among the most vulnerable populations, mainly children under five years of age and women of childbearing age. The project also focuses on the treatment of severe acute malnutrition, and includes a preventive component. To that effect, 11,468 children will be treated with 10,000 cartons of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) through the Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) programme, which is expected to save about 2,000 lives.