Conflict, violence and threatened futures: a post-MDG challenge in northern Nigeria

The post-2015 development agenda is about promoting sustainable futures in a diversity of contexts, including increasingly conflict-affected regions such as northern Nigeria. Nigeria already accounts for 18% of the world’s... [ view full abstract ]

The post-2015 development agenda is about promoting sustainable futures in a diversity of contexts, including increasingly conflict-affected regions such as northern Nigeria. Nigeria already accounts for 18% of the world’s out-of-school children, and 60% of girls aged 6-17 not in school are in northern states. The outbreak of violent attacks in northern Nigeria has made it difficult for children to receive the education that they need.

Nigeria’s effort to plan for and provide quality basic education for all children is undermined by a severe shortage of data, including for conflict-sensitive education planning. The Education Sector Support Progamme in Nigeria (ESSPIN), a DFID/UKaid-funded initiative, recognised the urgency of better understanding the conflict situation in northern Nigeria to improve education targeting and delivery.

ESSPIN undertook a study to identify and analyse different explanations to the increasing levels of conflict and violence affecting schools, children and their educators. The study covered three northern States and analytic variables included gender and school communities affected by conflict. The findings highlight the kinds of conflict and violence that schools and communities experience, identify key drivers and triggers through the eyes of a range of stakeholders including children, and draw recommendations for conflict-sensitive education planning for 2015 and beyond.

The study report is being considered by the Presidential committee on the Safe Schools Initiative, Nigeria’s response to the humanitarian challenge in northern Nigeria in 2015 and beyond, and is expected to catalyse a body of evidence to inform development assistance over the next few years.