GEEP manager meets UN OCHA to support vulnerable communities

Mr. Hamza Ibrahim Baba, National Program Manager Government Enterprise and Empowerment Program GEEP convened a strategic meeting with Mr. Trond Jensen, the Representative of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) in Nigeria.

A statement issued on Thursday by Attari M. Hope,

Head of Communication & Public Relations, said the meeting focused on identifying collaboration areas to enhance support for vulnerable communities across the nation.

Mr. Jensen provided an overview of UN-OCHA’s mandate, highlighting its vital role in coordinating international humanitarian responses and advocating for the needs of crisis-affected populations.

In response, Mr. Hamza shared insights into GEEP’s core objectives under NSIPA, articulating GEEP’s mission to promote financial inclusion and empower underserved groups, including smallholder farmers, petty traders, artisans, and youth, through targeted microcredit initiatives such as Tradermoni, Marketmoni, and Farmermoni.

He also outlined GEEP’s decentralized implementation structure, emphasizing transparency in beneficiary identification, disbursement, and recovery processes. Mr. Hamza announced plans to launch the Renewed Hope GEEP 3.0 initiative in July, aimed at expanding the program’s impact.

Key areas for potential collaboration between GEEP and UN-OCHA include:

• Funding Support: Expanding GEEP’s reach through financial assistance.

• Capacity Building: Providing training for program staff and implementing partners to enhance operational effectiveness.

• Community Outreach: Strengthening awareness and mobilization through joint advocacy initiatives.

• Technical Assistance: Leveraging innovation to improve service delivery and operational efficiency.

Both parties expressed optimism about future engagements and committed to ongoing discussions to formalize a framework for collaboration that aligns with national development and humanitarian priorities.

This initial engagement marks a significant step toward enhancing synergy between social protection and humanitarian interventions for vulnerable communities across Nigeria.