Rebuilding livelihoods for conflict-affected families in northeast Nigeria

Hauwa Kachallah, a mother of six from Bama, Borno State, vividly remembers the day her life changed forever. Her husband was killed during an attack on their town, and the conflict robbed her family of their livestock—their primary source of income. With no other choice, Hauwa and her children fled to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, traveling on foot for three days to reach safety.

“Life in the displacement camp was extremely difficult, with little access to food or assistance,” she recalled. 

When it was finally safe to return home, Hauwa found her house in ruins and her livelihood completely destroyed. She had no idea how to start over.

For more than 15 years, conflict in northeast Nigeria has uprooted millions, weakened agricultural and pastoral systems, and forced families into difficult coping mechanisms that jeopardized their health and safety. 

In response, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) launched a cash-based livestock restocking program in Borno State in 2022, later expanding it to Adamawa and Yobe states. The initiative aims to help vulnerable households rebuild their livelihoods with dignity and regain a sense of stability.

The programme supports families by replacing lost animals, offering training in animal care, and prioritizing assistance to women, widows, and other vulnerable groups. In several communities across Borno, families who once returned home to nothing are now reporting growing herds, more regular incomes, and improved nutrition—clear signs of resilience and gradual recovery.

For Hauwa, this journey of resilience began with a small grant and a few sheep.