Evaluating the Impact of Nigeria’s Social Investment Programmes on Economic Resilience, Social Inclusion and Conflict Mitigation among Youth in Conflict-affected Regions

Chibuzor Chile Nwobueze; Nyenwe  Emem

doi:10.17605/cajssh.v6i3.1205

Authors

Chibuzor Chile Nwobueze Okey Onuchuku Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Nyenwe Emem Okey Onuchuku Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17605/cajssh.v6i3.1205

Keywords:

Social Investment Programmes, Economic Resilience, Social Inclusion, Conflict Mitigation, Youth Empowerment, Conflict-affected Regions

Abstract

Nigeria’s social investment programmes have been widely employed as strategic interventions to mitigate poverty, promote social inclusion and establish stability, particularly for vulnerable populations in conflict-prone regions. This research evaluates the impact of the programmes on economic resilience, social inclusion and conflict reduction among the youth in Nigeria’s most volatile regions. The research focuses on flagship programmes such as the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP), their effect on improving youth livelihoods, social cohesion and reducing vulnerability to violent extremism and social unrest. The paper indicates that, while social investment programmes are central to expanding economic opportunity and inclusion, programme reach issues, implementation gaps and contextual factors limit their full potential for conflict reduction. The paper suggests that social investment programmes are a critical means of enhancing economic resilience, social inclusion and peacebuilding. Therefore, such programmes must be located in more holistic development and peacebuilding frameworks that recognize root causes of violence.

References

D. E. Agbiboa, “Youth and Violent Extremism in Nigeria: A Critical Examination,” Journal of Terrorism Research, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 1–15, 2017.

C. Barrett and D. Maxwell, Food Aid after Fifty Years: Recasting Its Role. London: Routledge, 2005.

S. Devereux and R. Sabates-Wheeler, Transformative Social Protection, IDS Working Paper, 2004.

Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, National Social Investment Program Report, Abuja: Government of Nigeria, 2018.

J. P. Lederach, Preparing for Peace: Conflict Transformation across Cultures. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1995.

E. Obadare and W. Adebanwi, “Security and Social Protection Challenges in Nigeria’s Conflict Zones,” African Affairs, vol. 118, no. 472, pp. 345–366, 2019.

OECD, Social Protection and Conflict Prevention: Theoretical and Empirical Insights. Paris: OECD Publishing, 2019.

F. C. Onuoha, “Youth Unemployment and Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria,” Stability: International Journal of Security & Development, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 1–16, 2014.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nigeria Human Development Report, New York: UNDP, 2019.

World Bank, Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice: Nigeria Social Investment Program Evaluation. Washington, DC: World Bank, 2018.

World Bank, Nigeria Youth Employment and Unemployment Data, Washington, DC: World Bank, 2020.

World Food Programme, Social Protection and Conflict Mitigation: Lessons from Nigeria. Rome: WFP, 2019.

S. L. McCandless, “Peacebuilding and Social Protection: A Conflict-Sensitive Approach,” Journal of Peacebuilding & Development, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 50–64, 2013.

A. A. Yusuf and K. A. Tunde, “Social Protection and Conflict Reduction in Nigeria: A Review of Policy and Practice,” African Journal of Governance and Development, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 101–116, 2018.

A. Adediran, “Youth Empowerment and Peacebuilding in Nigeria: Policy Gaps and Opportunities,” Conflict Trends, no. 4, pp. 24–30, 2020.