Call for EOIs: Life-Saving Food and Nutrition Assistance in Nigeria

Deadline: 24-Feb-2026

The World Food Programme (WFP) is inviting expressions of interest to deliver life-saving food and nutrition assistance in crisis-affected areas of Northeast and Northwest Nigeria. This initiative responds to escalating food insecurity driven by conflict, displacement, inflation, and climate shocks, with a focus on emergency assistance and long-term resilience building.

Overview of the WFP Call for Expressions of Interest

The World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking qualified partners to support humanitarian food security and nutrition interventions in Nigeria’s most vulnerable regions. The initiative prioritizes life-saving assistance for populations affected by prolonged conflict, insecurity, and economic shocks in the Northeast and Northwest.

This call aligns with WFP’s mandate to save lives in emergencies while strengthening pathways to recovery and resilience.

Geographic Focus Areas

WFP-supported interventions will concentrate on:

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Northeast Nigeria, including Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states
Northwest Nigeria, with targeted interventions in Katsina State, specifically Danmusa, Dutsinma, Kurfi, and Safana

These areas are experiencing acute food insecurity, high displacement, and limited access to livelihoods and essential services.

Key Focus Areas and Intervention Themes

Proposed activities must align with WFP’s priority sectors, including:

Food security and nutrition assistance
Cash-based transfers and market support
Early Warning and Early Action mechanisms
Direct food assistance for vulnerable households

Interventions should integrate immediate humanitarian relief with resilience-oriented approaches.

Humanitarian Context and Needs Analysis

Nigeria’s humanitarian crisis is driven by overlapping shocks:

Ongoing insurgency in the Northeast limiting farming and income generation
Armed banditry and kidnappings in the Northwest disrupting livelihoods
High inflation and rising food and non-food prices
Climate stressors, including floods and prolonged dry spells

These factors have significantly reduced household coping capacity and worsened malnutrition risks.

Food Security Projections for 2026

Forecasts for the June–August 2026 lean season indicate severe deterioration:

Parts of Borno State are projected to reach Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) levels
Nearly 6 million people across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states are expected to face Crisis or worse food insecurity
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) remain among the most at-risk populations

These projections underscore the urgency of timely and scaled interventions.

WFP’s Strategic Approach

Since 2018, WFP has implemented integrated humanitarian and resilience programs in the affected regions. Strategic objectives include:

Bridging immediate food and nutrition gaps
Strengthening community capacities and productive assets
Supporting livelihoods and income diversification
Reducing vulnerability to future shocks and conflict-related risks

The approach combines emergency assistance with sustainable food security solutions.

Who Is Eligible to Respond

Eligible partners typically include:

National and international non-governmental organizations
Civil society organizations with humanitarian operations experience
Organizations with proven capacity in food security, nutrition, or cash-based programming
Entities able to operate in insecure and hard-to-reach environments

Partners must demonstrate operational presence or readiness in the target regions.

Why This Initiative Matters

This call addresses one of the most severe and protracted food crises in West Africa. By combining life-saving assistance with resilience-building measures, WFP aims to prevent famine conditions, protect livelihoods, and support recovery for millions of vulnerable Nigerians.

How the Process Works

WFP invites expressions of interest from qualified organizations
Submissions are reviewed for technical capacity, relevance, and geographic coverage
Selected partners engage in detailed program design with WFP
Approved projects are implemented with ongoing monitoring and coordination
Results inform adaptive programming and longer-term resilience strategies

Tips for Strong Expressions of Interest

Clearly link proposed activities to WFP priority sectors
Demonstrate experience in conflict-affected or displacement settings
Include strategies for access, safety, and community engagement
Show how interventions balance emergency response with resilience outcomes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main objective of this WFP call?

The objective is to deliver life-saving food and nutrition assistance while strengthening resilience in crisis-affected communities.

Which regions of Nigeria are prioritized?

The focus is on Northeast Nigeria (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe) and Northwest Nigeria, particularly selected areas in Katsina State.

What types of assistance are supported?

Food assistance, cash-based transfers, early warning and early action, and nutrition-focused interventions.

Who can submit an expression of interest?

Qualified humanitarian and development organizations with relevant experience and operational capacity.

What is the timeframe of concern highlighted in this call?

The 2026 lean season, particularly June to August, when food insecurity is expected to peak.

How does WFP integrate resilience into emergency response?

By linking food assistance with livelihood support, asset creation, and community capacity development.

Why is early action emphasized?

Early action reduces humanitarian costs, prevents asset loss, and mitigates the severity of food insecurity shocks.

Conclusion

The WFP call for expressions of interest represents a critical opportunity to address escalating food insecurity in Northeast and Northwest Nigeria. By supporting coordinated, evidence-based, and people-centered interventions, this initiative seeks to save lives today while building resilience for tomorrow.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.