By Atiku Galadima, Maiduguri
The German Government in collaboration with the European union through Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has commenced an inception meeting in Maiduguri to support efforts on landscape mapping and knowledge management for social protection in Borno State. This comes under the flagship “Supporting Sustainable Social Protection, Participation and Economic Resilience in Northeast Nigeria (SEPIN SUSI) programme.
The workshop, held in Maiduguri on Wednesday under the supervision of the state’s Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (MRRR), brought together consultants, technical experts, representatives of key ministries, departments and agencies, alongside civil society organisations and development partners, to deliberate on practical strategies for strengthening coordination and improving the delivery of social protection initiatives targeting vulnerable populations.
The lead Consultant on Knowledge Management and Learning, Mr. Obinna Anna, said the engagement aims to develop a learning and knowledge management strategy that will improve the design, implementation, and sustainability of social protection interventions.
“Our goal is to help identify gaps and strengthen the decision-making process. By improving how knowledge is managed and shared, we can ensure that interventions avoid past mistakes and achieve greater impact,” Mr. Anna said.
He added that the findings from the landscape mapping exercise would provide valuable insight into existing social protection systems and guide future actions to make them more inclusive and effective.
Ruth Bulus, a participant and Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the Borno State Ministry of Youth and Sports, commended the SEPIN SUSI programme, the commissioning parties and GIZ for the initiative, describing it as timely and essential for building institutional capacity.
“Without capacity building, the implementation of social protection will face serious challenges. This kind of engagement provides stakeholders with the skills and knowledge to fill existing gaps,” Bulus said.
Another participant, Fatima Abba, praised GIZ for organising the inception meeting, noting that training and technical collaboration remain key to achieving social protection goals in a post-conflict setting.
“Stakeholders need the right skills and understanding to drive implementation. This engagement will help strengthen capacity and ensure sustainability in supporting vulnerable groups,” she added.
The meeting forms part of GIZ’s ongoing commitment to promoting social inclusion and building resilience through improved coordination, evidence-based learning, and collaboration among stakeholders working to protect vulnerable citizens in Borno State.