Photo by RET

Article by Jean Baptiste Gihugu, Project Communications Officer – EMEAA

KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA – From April 7–12, 2025, RET Germany and its implementing partner Center for Community Development and Research Network (CCDRN) conducted a successful field mission to Katsina State, Nigeria, as part of their joint project aimed at enhancing livelihoods and food security in the Niger-Nigeria border region. The project, “Empowering Women and Youth Through Livelihoods, Food Security, and Peacebuilding” is being implemented in consortium with Arbeiter Samariter Bund e.V. (ASB) and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It aims to assist vulnerable youth and women, particularly those affected by poverty, displacement, and conflict.

The mission covered key Local Government Areas (LGAs) including Mai’Adua and Batagarawa, where the team engaged directly with project beneficiaries, local leaders, and community stakeholders. The visit provided an opportunity to assess the progress of 2024 activities, review implementation challenges, and collaboratively develop the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) for 2025.

Photo by RET

One of the most powerful moments of the visit was engaging with women and youth whose lives have been transformed by the unconditional cash transfer intervention. Their stories are a testament to the real impact of this project on the ground. Nana Ahmed, a woman living with a disability, recounted her struggles before the intervention. “I used to beg on the streets just to feed my child,” she shared. “Thanks to this support, I was finally able to pay my child’s school fees. That alone gave me so much dignity and hope.” Another beneficiary, Fatima, used the funds to continue her tailoring training. With the materials she was able to purchase, she has started making and selling garments—turning her learning into a sustainable livelihood and taking the first steps toward financial independence.

In addition to beneficiary engagement, the team visited proposed vocational training centers, reviewed the project’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework, and delivered finance training to enhance accountability and local capacity. Discussions also focused on finalizing the Capacity Assessment and strengthening collaboration between RET Nigeria and its Niger-based counterparts for cross-border harmonization.

The visit was not without challenges: A case of cyber fraud affecting a beneficiary highlighted the need for increased awareness on digital safety. The team recommended integrating cybersecurity sensitization into future community activities to safeguard participants.

As the project moves forward, RET and its partners remain committed to creating safe, resilient, and economically empowered communities. The joint field visit reaffirmed the importance of grassroots engagement and inter-agency collaboration in achieving food security and peace.

This initiative is part of RET’s broader commitment to supporting vulnerable populations through integrated interventions that combine livelihoods, food security, and peacebuilding, while promoting resilience across borders.

Photo by RET

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