The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is addressing the urgent and long-term needs of crisis-affected populations in Northeast Nigeria through its Humanitarian Assistance and Resilience Programme (HARP). This multi-year initiative provides life-saving humanitarian aid while supporting efforts to build resilience and promote local ownership of aid response. The programme is implemented in collaboration with United Nations agencies (UN agencies), International NGOs (INGOs), and National actors (NNGOs), with operations spanning the conflict-affected states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY).

HARP delivers a dual-focused response, meeting the immediate needs of vulnerable populations through the provision of food assistance, shelter, healthcare, and protection services, while also strengthening community capacity to withstand future shocks and rebuild livelihoods. In line with global best practices, the programme emphasizes gender equality, protection, and accountability to affected populations (AAP).

To enhance quality and transparency, FCDO commissioned Third-Party Monitoring (TPM) to independently verify program activities and ensure that its funded humanitarian assistance remains effective, inclusive, and responsive to local needs. As the operational lead of the consortium led TPM team, Fact Foundation was tasked with the on-site monitoring of the implementation of interventions delivered by key FCDO HARP partners, UNICEF, World Food Programme (WFP), and CARE International (CARE).

By centering its efforts on gathering the voices and realities of affected populations, Fact Foundation (FACT) played a pivotal role in designing and delivering community centered actionable insights aimed at improving coordination and decision making processes across the BAY states. Through the HARP TPM project, interventions funded by FCDO were not only found to be effective, but targeted and contextually responsive. HARP interventions were also seen to uphold the principles of dignity, transparency, and accountability. Thus, ensuring and enhancing that the vulnerable are reached amidst existing operational challenges. 

Statement of Problem

Now entering its 16th year, the humanitarian crisis in  NE Nigeria remains one of the world’s most prolonged and complex humanitarian emergencies. The ongoing conflict involving security forces and non-state armed groups continues to fuel widespread displacement, disrupt access to essential services, and expose many of the region’s population to protection risks. As of 2023, approximately 2.1 million people remain displaced across the BAY states^[1], with many living in secondary or informal settlements following the closure of official camps^[2]. These evolving dynamics have further strained humanitarian operations and deepened existing vulnerabilities.

The situation is further compounded by the persistent food insecurity^[3], recurrent disease outbreaks, climate induced shocks such as flooding, drought and irregular rainfall patterns^[4]. Health systems remain fragile or operationally non-existent, access to life saving services is limited particularly for women, children and persons living with disabilities (PLWDs) and older adults in hard to reach or insecure areas. In responses, FCDO funded partners such as UNICEF, WFP and CARE International to continue to provide critical interventions in nutrition, food assistance, protection and resilience building assistance across the BAY states^[5].

However, despite ongoing support, the complex operational environment, compounded by insecurity, fluctuating access, and constrained funding, undermines visibility into program delivery outcomes. Limited capacity for real time verification and community feedback impairs efforts to ensure accountability, improve service delivery quality, and adaptive programming to rapidly changing needs^[6]. It is within this context that the HARP TPM emerged as a crucial mechanism for the independent verification of FCDO HARP funded humanitarian activities. With the overarching aim of identifying implementation gaps, and providing timely, evidence-based insights to enhance coordination, transparency and responsiveness across the BAY states.

HARP TPM Focus

To strengthen transparency, learning, and accountability within the FCDO-funded HARP, TPM was deployed across BAY states. FACT led the independent monitoring of interventions implemented by UNICEF, WFP, and CARE International, delivering timely, field-based insights to improve program effectiveness and support adaptive decision-making.

Monitoring activities were tailored to each partner’s sectorial focus, using a layered monitoring approach that allowed for nuanced tracking of each implementing partner’s program performance.  This included the systematic review of areas such as risk monitoring, adherence to Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) principles, Safeguarding Against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH), anti-fraud mechanisms and access barriers particularly  for vulnerable and marginalised groups.

FACT conducted quarterly data collection activities through three major field components designed to provide comprehensive monitoring insights. The first , Light-Touch Verification (LTV) was a quantitative beneficiary facing assessment focused on verifying aid distribution activities carried out by implementing partners. It involved direct interviews with beneficiaries to determine whether they received the appropriate assistance as intended.  The second component, Risk Monitoring (RM) adopted a qualitative approach, gathering information through  Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with community  stakeholders, beneficiaries, volunteers and aid workers. This exercise explored potential and emerging risks associated with program delivery, protection and community dynamics. The third component, Flash Reporting, functioned as a rapid response mechanism to identify and document instances of fraud, misconduct, and safeguarding concerns. These reports were triggered by on-site observations by the FACT field team or disclosures from community members, beneficiaries, volunteers and community based aid workers/staff. Collectively,  these three components ensured that FACT’s monitoring approach was not only robust and multi-dimensional but also grounded in the lived experiences of those directly impacted by the humanitarian interventions.

Community perspectives were central to the TPM process, field teams carried out beneficiary interviews, FGDs, KIIs and debrief sessions to capture direct feedback and lived experiences. These were consolidated into regular reports, interactive dashboards, and learning briefs shared with both FCDO and implementing partners for review, input and subsequent adaptation into their programming. Through the integrated approach, FACT not only verified the delivery of aid but also ensured that humanitarian programming  of the implementing partners was continuously informed by the voices, perspectives and needs of the affected communities. Thus , reinforcing trust, ownership and accountability across the FCDO funded response.

Role of FACT

FACT served as the TPM partner for the FCDO funded HARPin NE Nigeria, supporting oversight and learning across the BAY states. As the operational lead, FACT’s main objective was to conduct independent and neutral monitoring of implementing partners UNICEF, WFP and CARE International ensuring that programme activities were identified with beneficiary needs and were delivered transparently, effectively and with accountability. In this capacity, FACT not only verified aid delivery but also promoted continuous learning by identifying gaps, good practices, and opportunities for improvement within the wider humanitarian response.

FACT deployed trained field teams to execute structured monitoring activities guided by FCDO’s Terms of Reference (ToRs), generating real-time, actionable data to support adaptive decision making. These activities included LTV, which assessed the reach and outcomes of programme interventions, RM which captured protection concerns and operational challenges through community-based qualitative feedback. Flash reporting further complements this by enabling the rapid identification and documentation of incidents reported by community members, beneficiaries and workers.

A central pillar of FACT’s TPM mandate was the integration of AAP. monitoring tools were adapted to capture community feedback on targeting, awareness of entitlements and access to complaints and feedback mechanisms. While many respondents acknowledged improvements in transparency and engagement, others cited gaps in sensitization and grievance redress. Based on these insights, FACT provided partners with targeted recommendations such as enhancing pre-distribution communication, improving community outreach and formalizing and familiarising communities with feedback systems. This people centred approach helped implementing partners to fine tune their programmes and ensured that TPM served not merely as a compliance tool but a vehicle for inclusive and responsive humanitarian action. FACT was specifically responsible for all field/data collection related activities that focused on monitoring, verification and validation.

These activities include;

Round 1 and 3 Risk Monitoring

A total of 12 KI interviews (6 per state), and 8 focus group discussions (FGDs) with direct beneficiaries (4 per state) across Borno and Yobe states for UNICEF and WFP, while Care International was monitored across the three BAY states.

Impact metrics (Infographics)

The project spanned one year:

Fact Foundation conducted Third party Monitoring (TPM) across Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states, engaging a total of 1,066 beneficiaries:

Round 1 Light Touch Verification (13th to 25th June 2024)

A total of 2,653 beneficiaries across the three BAY states:

• UNICEF: 859 beneficiaries were surveyed in Borno (428) and Yobe (431). Data collection was supported by lists of health facilities and beneficiary distribution provided by UNICEF per LGA.
• WFP: 1,280 beneficiaries were reached in Borno (431) and Yobe (420), specifically covering the LGAs of Bama, Dikwa, Gwoza, Kala/Balge, Mafa, and Ngala (Borno) Geidam, Gujba, Yunusari, and Yusufari (Yobe).
• CARE International: 512 beneficiaries were surveyed across Adamawa (93), Borno (196), and Yobe (225), all of whom had received assistance within the four weeks prior to data collection. A total of 206 valid interviews were recorded between 21 January to 11 February 2025.

Round 1 Risk Monitoring (26th June to 14th July 2024)

• WFP: A total of 12 KI interviews (6 per state), and 8 focus group discussions (FGDs) with direct beneficiaries (4 per state) across Borno and Yobe states to map out any emerging, ongoing, or reducing risk related to the operational context, safeguarding, impact of activities, and finance/fraud. In each state, two Local Government Areas (LGAs) with the highest number of direct beneficiaries were selected to conduct the FGDs and KIIs. In each selected LGA, 3KIIs were conducted with a local authority (such as a community leader, council chief or camp leader), a women’s representative, and a youth representative. Whereas FGD were conducted with female and male beneficiaries.
• UNICEF: A total of 12 KI interviews (6 per state), and 8 focus group discussions (FGDs) with direct beneficiaries (4 per state) across Borno and Yobe states to map out any emerging, ongoing, or reducing risk related to the operational context, safeguarding, impact of activities, and finance/fraud. In each state, two Local Government Areas (LGAs) with the highest number of direct beneficiaries were selected to conduct the FGDs and KIIs. In each selected LGA, 3KIIs were conducted with a local authority (such as a community leader, council chief or camp leader), a women’s representative, and a youth representative. Whereas FGD were conducted with female and male beneficiaries.
• CARE International: A total of 18 KI interviews (6 per state), and 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) with direct beneficiaries (4 per state) across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states to map out any emerging, ongoing, or reducing risk related to the operational context, safeguarding, impact of activities, and finance/fraud. In each state, two Local Government Areas (LGAs) with the highest number of direct beneficiaries were selected to conduct the FGDs and KIIs. In each selected LGA, 3 KIIs were conducted with a local authority (such as a community leader, council chief or camp leader), a women’s representative, and a youth representative. Whereas FGD were conducted with female and male beneficiaries.

Round 2 Light Touch Verification (12th  to 30th  November 2024)

A total of 2,653 beneficiaries across the three BAY states:

• UNICEF: 859 beneficiaries were surveyed in Borno (428), Yobe (431). Data collection was supported by lists of health facilities and beneficiary distribution provided by UNICEF per LGA.
• WFP: 1,280 beneficiaries were reached in Borno (431) and Yobe (420), specifically covering the LGAs of Bama, Dikwa, Gwoza, Kala/Balge, Mafa, and Ngala (Borno) Geidam, Gujba, Yunusari, and Yusufari (Yobe).
• CARE International: 512 beneficiaries were surveyed across Adamawa (93), Borno (196), and Yobe (225), all of whom had received assistance within the four weeks prior to data collection. A total of 206 valid interviews were recorded between 21 January to 11 February 2025.

Round 3 Light Touch Verification (21st January to 19th February 2025)

A total of 2,653 beneficiaries across the three BAY states:

• UNICEF: 859 beneficiaries were surveyed in Borno (428), and Yobe (431). Data collection was supported by lists of health facilities and beneficiary distribution provided by UNICEF per LGA.
• WFP: 1,280 beneficiaries were reached in Adamawa(429), Borno (431) and Yobe (420), specifically covering the LGAs of Bama, Dikwa, Gwoza, Kala/Balge, Mafa, and Ngala (Borno) Geidam, Gujba, Yunusari, and Yusufari (Yobe). Madagali and Micika LGAs (Adamawa)
• CARE International: 512 beneficiaries were surveyed across Adamawa (93), Borno (196), and Yobe (225), all of whom had received assistance within the four weeks prior to data collection. A total of 206 valid interviews were recorded between 21 January to 11 February 2025.

Round 3 Risk Monitoring (2nd to 29th December 2024)

• WFP: total of 12 KI interviews (6 per state), and 8 focus group discussions (FGDs) with direct beneficiaries (4 per state) across Borno and Yobe states to map out any emerging, ongoing, or reducing risk related to the operational context, safeguarding, impact of activities, and finance/fraud. In each state, two Local Government Areas (LGAs) with the highest number of direct beneficiaries were selected to conduct the FGDs and KIIs. In each selected LGA, 3KIIs were conducted with a local authority (such as a community leader, council chief or camp leader), a women’s representative, and a youth representative. Whereas FGD were conducted with female and male beneficiaries.
• UNICEF: A total of 12 KI interviews (6 per state), and 8 focus group discussions (FGDs) with direct beneficiaries (4 per state) across Borno and Yobe states to map out any emerging, ongoing, or reducing risk related to the operational context, safeguarding, impact of activities, and finance/fraud. In each state, two Local Government Areas (LGAs) with the highest number of direct beneficiaries were selected to conduct the FGDs and KIIs. In each selected LGA, 3KIIs were conducted with a local authority (such as a community leader, council chief or camp leader), a women’s representative, and a youth representative. Whereas FGD were conducted with female and male beneficiaries.
• CARE International: A total of 18 KI interviews (6 per state), and 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) with direct beneficiaries (4 per state) across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states to map out any emerging, ongoing, or reducing risk related to the operational context, safeguarding, impact of activities, and finance/fraud. In each state, two Local Government Areas (LGAs) with the highest number of direct beneficiaries were selected to conduct the FGDs and KIIs. In each selected LGA, 3 KIIs were conducted with a local authority (such as a community leader, council chief or camp leader), a women’s representative, and a youth representative. Whereas FGD were conducted with female and male beneficiaries.

Conclusion

By the end of the project, Fact Foundation effectively implemented  TPM   across more than 30  LGAs in the BAY states, covering all assigned implementation areas for UNICEF, WFP, and CARE International. Across multiple rounds,  the TPM team completed LTV, RM, and Flash Reporting,  gathering both quantitative and qualitative data across key  sectors such as  nutrition, food security, livelihood and protection.

These activities, conducted in line with FCDOs ToRs,  in 4, 000 structured engagements community members, aid recipients, and frontline workers  through structured surveys, FGDs , and KIIs. The evidence generated was synthesized into  interactive dashboards, reports, and joint learning sessions that directly informed adaptive programming and strengthened decision-making processes.

The successful execution of the HARP TPM reflects the critical value of independent, community centred monitoring in fragile contexts. It highlights how neutral evidence-based feedback loops can reinforce accountability, enhance transparency, and improve the quality and responsiveness of humanitarian interventions in NE’s most challenging operational communities.

^[1] IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Nigeria Report, Round 45 (2023)

^[2] OCHA Nigeria Humanitarian Bulletin, December 2023

^[3] Cadre Harmonise Analysis, March 2024-Nigeria.

^[4] Nigeria Climate Risk Country Profile (World Bank/USAID, 2024)

^[5] FCDO HARP TPM Partner Reports, (2023)

^[6] Nigeria Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), 2024

Background 

The World Food Programme (WFP) is addressing the food needs of the affected population through its Country Strategic Plan (CSP) spanning from 2023 to 2027. This comprehensive plan aims to deliver food assistance, cash transfers, capacity building, and livelihood opportunities to the affected communities. Currently, WFP operates in various areas of Borno State, including Bayo, Biu, Damboa, Hawul, Kwaya Kusar, and Shani Local Government Areas (LGAs), all of which coincide with FACT’s operational zones. To enhance accountability, effectiveness, and efficiency within the CSP framework and to mitigate risks, FACT has partnered with WFP to implement third-party monitoring (TPM) in these aforementioned locations. In pursuit of the project’s objectives, the team from Fact Foundation regularly visited sites of the Targeted Supplementary Feeding Program, retailer outlets, and locations where WFP’s activities funded by BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany) were being carried out. These visits were conducted monthly in accordance with the work order assigned to FACT by WFP. Throughout the project duration, FACT was tasked with overseeing a total of 857 distribution sites. While the project team managed to cover 665 of these sites, representing a completion rate of 77%, certain limitations were encountered. The inability to reach some sites was primarily attributed to challenges related to poor road conditions and security concerns in the area.

Statement of problem

Northeast Nigeria is currently facing a remarkable humanitarian crisis as a result of the conflict involving security forces and armed opposition groups (AOGs). The situation since 2009 has deteriorated significantly, with most Local Government areas in Borno state and the adjoining States of Adamawa and Yobe experiencing enormous destruction of infrastructure, large-scale population displacement and disruption in livelihoods. Threats of attacks by non-state armed groups and restrictions in movements continue to have negative impacts on trade, livelihoods, and markets, leaving a substantial proportion of the population relying on humanitarian assistance. 

In 2022, 4.1 million people were projected to face alarming levels of food insecurity and malnutrition in the Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states, unhindered humanitarian access and a safe operating environment are critical to enable aid agencies to sustain the ongoing scale-up and prepositioning of vital supplies. The unrest and insecurity affected the food security, nutrition and livelihood situation of areas in the Lake Chad Basin, significantly impacting areas in Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. Livelihood and markets have been disrupted, and mass population displacements are seen with the situation showing little signs of substantially abating. 

Nigeria is the world’s seventh most populated nation and home to Africa’s largest population, currently more than 216 million people with an average growth of 2.5 % per year putting it on track to reach 401 million by 2050. More than 43% of the population is under 14 years of age and it is ranked 163rd of 189 countries in the 2020 Human Development Index and 186th for life expectancy at 52.7 years at birth. Nigeria has a large informal economy, accounting for more than half of its GDP and over 80 per cent of employment. Agriculture represents about one-quarter of total GDP, indicating broad exposure to the impact of climate change. High incidence of floods, desertification and deforestation continues to pose serious threats to livelihoods.

Unfortunately, undernourishment and food insecurity are steadily on the rise, and this is partly owing to low agricultural production, inadequate policy choices and persistent conflict and population displacement, exacerbated by insufficient social protection coverage, which supports only 13 % of Nigerians. More than half of all Nigerians, or more than 100 million people, are enduring at least moderate food insecurity.

In response to rising food insecurity, volatile food prices, security uncertainties and climate change impacts, WFP is leveraging targeted gender-sensitive crisis response to help forge durable paths to recovery by moving relief beneficiaries to livelihood activities, supporting food systems that are climate-resilient and integrating nutrition, gender and protection concerns into all interventions. The approach will also mainstream Accountability to the Affected Population (AAP), disability inclusion and environmental sustainability. On these premises, WFP intends to refine targeting to better ensure the inclusion of vulnerable groups; improve gender sensitivity in programming; extend the timeframes of activities; and explore opportunities to scale up livelihood activities by providing food assistance and an integrated package of gender-transformative malnutrition prevention alongside social and behavior change communication, asset-creation, skills development and complementary livelihood activities to crisis-affected, food-insecure internally displaced persons, returnees, refugees, host communities and nutritionally vulnerable groups (including children 6–23 months of age and pregnant and nursing mothers). 

Third-Party Monitoring (TPM) Focus 

The TPM service provision achieved its goals through a two-pronged approach. In areas of stability where the existing WFP capacity was limited, monitoring gaps were filled on an as-needed basis, depending on the capacity of the WFP office at that particular time. Currently, WFP Nigeria is extending its Country Strategic Plan (CSP) from February 2023 to 2027, which aims to strengthen WFP’s presence in Nigeria by building partnerships and maximizing results through complementary action. The CSP aims to support the people WFP serves with in-kind food, cash transfers, and capacity building through the provision of:

• General food distributions and income generation activities capacity building; 
• Malnutrition prevention for children under 5 years of age and pregnant or breastfeeding women and malnutrition treatment activities for children under 5 years of age;
• Seasonal livelihood assistance; and 
• Integrated malnutrition prevention for pregnant or breastfeeding women. All activities were supplemented with social behavior change communication messaging.

Role of FACT

Fact Foundation (FACT), in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), extended enhanced monitoring coverage across all operational areas in Borno State, particularly in the Bayo, Biu, Dambo, Hawul, Kwaya Kusar, and Shani Local Government Areas (LGAs) through a monthly assigned Work Order (WO). The primary purpose is to ensure adherence to WFP’s recommended guidelines in providing services to beneficiaries while safeguarding them from further harm or indignity. Additionally, it seeks to ensure neutrality, impartiality, and confidentiality during the implementation of activities, as well as in data collection through any means, and to gather high-quality and reliable data for WFP decision-making and reporting. 

FACT has a strong profile of research staff with years of experience in conducting TPM for UN Agencies and Donors. Through the field presence of FACT teams in the Northeast, the approach focused on assessing the quality and means of improving the various activities WFP implemented. With strict adherence to WFP’s monitoring TORs, FACT’s TPM activities not only helped WFP as well as partners to understand the risks and find ways to mitigate them but also focused on the views of beneficiaries and their opinions on how programs could be improved, to be more efficient and effective. The two types of monitoring conducted by WFP include process monitoring and outcome monitoring. Therefore, the overall aim of FACT was to spot-check whether, and to what extent, the project is meeting its desired outcomes, and is in line with international good practice and sector standards, with a particular focus on programme quality, accountability to affected populations (AAP), protection and fraud risk mitigation. 

Through a monthly Work Order (WO), FACT is assigned various activities classified as ACTIVITY 1, 2, and 4, for monitoring and reporting. These activities include; 

Impact metrics (Infographics)

In 10 months of TPM’s field activities, FACT’s project team was able to complete its monitoring assignment in 639 (77%) out of 830 sites/locations assigned through the monthly Work Order across the six (6) LGAs. During these visits, the TPM monitors successfully carried out 315 debriefs, 3490  beneficiary interviews, and attended 52 Coordination meetings with state and local government stakeholders. 

During the visits to the various distribution sites, the TPM project team held 557 post-distribution debriefs. These debrief sessions were conducted to share observation findings, beneficiary views, and monitoring issues noted during the activities. The debrief sessions were held with the LGA, UNICEF, cooperating partners, and the TPM team in attendance. 

At each distribution site, the team must conduct beneficiary interviews. This exercise allows WFP to have a clear understanding of how its aid and services impact the people they serve. The 

Conclusion

By the conclusion of the project, the team from Fact Foundation successfully covered 639 out of the 830 sites/locations designated by WFP in Bayo, Biu, Damboa, Hawul, Kwaya Kusar, and Shani, as outlined in the monthly Work Order. Throughout the project duration, the team diligently monitored various activities including Retailers Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Market Price Data Collection, Targeted Supplementary Feeding Program for Pregnant Breastfeeding Women and Girls (E-voucher), Unconditional Resource Transfer (URT) In-kind for New Arrivals, and 6-23 Months (E-voucher), alongside Warehouse Monitoring. The achieved coverage represents a commendable 77% completion rate within the project timeline. These milestones reflect the concerted efforts of the project team and the effective coordination facilitated by the senior management. The success is attributable to the robust communication channels upheld throughout the project implementation phase.