04.10.2026
Africa

Impact Synthesis: Nigeria Project

This impact synthesis draws on an outcome evaluation of the project Multi-Level Approaches to Sustainable Peace in Nigeria's Middle Belt (2022–2026) to assess how climate-sensitive peace agreements have reduced conflict across Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and Taraba states.

Farmer-herder conflicts over natural resources have claimed thousands of lives across Nigeria, with climate-driven droughts and irregular rainfall intensifying competition for land, water and grazing areas, particularly in the Middle Belt. This impact synthesis, developed by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) and adelphi, draws on an outcome evaluation of the project Multi-Level Approaches to Sustainable Peace in Nigeria's Middle Belt (2022–2026) to assess how climate-sensitive peace agreements have reduced conflict across Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and Taraba states. The report covers:

  • Project context, outlining how climate change is intensifying farmer-herder conflict in Nigeria's Middle Belt, and how HD's inclusive dialogue approach has led to natural resource peace agreements incorporating climate adaptation provisions.
  • Key outcomes, including three local natural resource peace agreements benefiting over half a million people with reported declines in violence, the signing of Nigeria's first statewide natural resource peace agreement in Benue State, locally led climate adaptation initiatives such as land rehabilitation and water conservation, revitalised livelihoods through reopened markets and roads, and growing cross-border confidence in dialogue among traditional leaders.
  • Lessons on integrated programming, covering how cross-sectoral partnerships are key to implementing resource management and climate adaptation provisions, how scaling up local approaches can create coherent regional frameworks for farmer-herder conflicts, and how deepening engagement with traditional leaders while maintaining inclusive, gender-responsive dialogue provides a foundation for lasting peace.
  • Recommendations for programming and donor support, on facilitating cross-sectoral partnerships from the outset, investing in scalable multi-level peace processes with robust implementation and monitoring frameworks, and building the capacity of traditional leaders alongside inclusive, gender-responsive dialogue structures.

Learn more about the project "Multi-level approaches for peace in Nigeria’s Middle Belt" here.