UNHCR Livelihoods - Atiku Institute for Development

AID UNHCR Livelihoods 15 September 2021

Visit of UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner to Maiduguri

Report on Visit of UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner to Maiduguri

Date: Tuesday 14th September 2021

Location: Maiduguri, Borno State

Time: 12pm – 6pm

On Tuesday 14 September, 2021, AUN joined UNHCR Maiduguri and other partners to receive a delegation of the Assistant High Commissioner Operations Mr. Raoul Mazou accompanied by top UNHCR officials including Mohammed Irfan Adil - Head of UNHCR Sub-Office, Maiduguri, Gabriel Idoko – Livelihoods Officer and many others to Bakassi IDP camp. The delegation on arrival from Banki mission proceeded to Bakassi camp where they were received by the teaming UNHCR staff and implementing partners including AUN, GISCOR, BOWDI, NBA, and NHRC. As part of the familiarization tour, the team visited the Mobile Court and the Safe Space situated in the camp and then check some of the beneficiaries of our livelihood intervention.

AUN team led by the Project Director welcomed the AHC delegation to Maiduguri and Bakassi camp. The PD briefed them on AUN Livelihoods Project in partnership with UNHCR in Borno and Yobe states, the approach and working relationship with UNHCR and its other partners. After this, the delegation was taken to see a few PoCs of the livelihoods project that have done tremendously well after being trained and empowered.

The team visited a beneficiary of 2019 project, Usman M Bura. He was displaced from Guzamala LGA and received livelihood support in petty trading. This has been his main source of livelihood since he was empowered. Usman narrated how he uses business and financial literacy skills acquired to grow his business and generate income to meet his basic needs and those of his family and close relatives. He thanked AUN and UNHCR for the opportunity extended to him. The delegation also visited 2 other PoCs, one Zainab Alhaji Kundu trained and empowered as a Tailor in 2020 and another Modu Abatcha who was trained and supported to start a recharge card selling business. All the PoCs are doing well and have recorded huge improvement in their living condition thanks to the livelihood intervention of AUN/UNHCR.

There was official hand over of laptops to some students who have been selected for the UNHCR-sponsored online certification course on Edx. Out of the 11 students currently selected, 5 of our PoCs trained on ICT made the list. The tour was rounded up with a visit to the Camp Management officer where the AHC met SEMA, NEMA and IOM officials managing the camp and then departed.

It was a successful visit by the AHC delegation.

Pictures below

UNHCR Livelihoods 10 June 2021

UNHCR Senior Management Visit to Bama Centre

The delegation led by Mr. Daniel Bisu (UNHCR focal person in Bama) include:

UNHCR Deputy Representative (Protection) Mr John Mc Kissick, Assistant representative (operations) Mr Gilbert Mutai and the head of sub-office Maiduguri Mohammed Irfan Adil visited our Centre for assessments, they started by using our hand washing facility before entering the office.

After introducing themselves, Mr Daniel asked for a brief about our activities and the second batch enrollment. We responded by saying we are starting it soon and we are considering the recent refugee returnees of Minawao, they now said we should give them a priority. They also said Livelihood is the best support we can give them. Mr Daniel told them that access to livelihood support is very limited because AUN is the only organization implementing a standard livelihood in the camp and our target is too small due to limited resources, so far only 40 PoCs benefited this year. Mr Gilbert also said we should maximize the utilization of our facilities by collaborating with other organizations so that we can train more people.

They also went round to see our training classes and stores where they saw the furniture produced by our carpentry trainees and they said we should engage them in any furniture-related work.

Pictures below.