As a proactive effort to build resilience against future crises in the Niger Delta, the Fund for Peace (FFP) and The  Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta  (PIND)  held a two-day workshop on Analytics and Scenario Planning for Resilience in Nigeria, focusing on the Niger Delta Region. This workshop aimed to equip stakeholders with advanced tools and analytics to address the region’s fragility and conflict.

Nate Haken, Vice President of Research and Innovation at FFP, said the workshop emphasized strategic resilience planning, stating, “Crises are inevitable, but we must prepare so that when they occur, people can absorb the shock, minimize its effect, and ultimately overcome.” He highlighted the region’s existing resilience and called for collaboration among stakeholders to maximize impact using data-driven approaches, urging the government for proactive measures and increased advocacy.

The workshop introduced global tools like the Fragile States Index (FSI), the State Resilience Index (SRI), and the Crisis Sensitivity Simulator (CSS). These tools help measure and analyze social, economic, political, and security indicators, providing a comprehensive understanding of potential risks and capacities to manage pressures. Baseline findings indicated that while overall pressures have reduced since 2016, economic and demographic pressures, including natural disasters and health challenges, have worsened.

Participant, including Peace actors, International Researchers, development and humanitarian practitioners, media, as well as Government institutions, applied these tools to develop strategic interventions. They anticipated crises and planned effective responses, projecting a flooding crisis might reoccur in the Niger Delta within the next five years. The workshop emphasized early warning and response, noting potential flooding reoccurrences similar to those in 2018 and 2022.

Dr. David Udofia, PIND Peacebuilding Manager, stressed the importance of multi-sectoral strategies to prevent and respond to flood crises. He called for increased advocacy and sensitization, emphasizing the need for communities to be aware and ready for these crises.

Dr. David urged the government to implement proactive measures to mitigate crises, highlighting that building resilience is crucial to preventing crises from escalating.

The Fund for Peace, a US-based NGO focused on promoting human security worldwide, has partnered with PIND Foundation for over a decade on peacebuilding initiatives in the Niger Delta. This workshop is part of a broader effort to develop action plans for crisis preparedness, bringing together stakeholders from various sectors to ensure a coordinated and effective response.