Many people in the Sahel region of Africa have fled their homelands due to persistent hostilities and food shortages exacerbated by climate change, violent conflicts, extremism and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. More than 60 per cent of the population in the Sahel are under the age of 25, with two-thirds of the young people in these border communities living in extreme poverty conditions and lack access to meaningful employment, skills, financial inclusion,and technology. Despite numerous challenges, the youth from the Sahel remain hopeful and dream of a brighter and better life for themselves and their communities.
Due to their vulnerabilities, young people in these communities remain at high risk of radicalisation, as violent extremism and the trafficking of small arms and light weapons persist. In addition, undocumented migration is on the rise as young people leave their homes in search of better prospects elsewhere – as witnessed in the border towns of Ilela in Sokoto State and Jibia in Kastina State – a major transit route to the republic of Niger.
Sitting inside her mother’s thatched house, 18-year-old Mariam Nasiru reminisces about her childhood as she narratesabout challenges she and others face in Ilela. “I still remember how life used to be while growing up, my family did nothave much, but we were happy. Back then, I had a lot of friends whom I played, ate with and went to school together. Sadly, a lot has changed, and this is not the case now. Most families have left our community due to climate change, insecurity, poverty, and instability. I dropped out of school because my parents could no longer afford to cater for my education. Despite these changes, I want my life to be better. I want to complete my education and get a better life just like my peers in other regions.”
In 2021, the UNDP Regional Hub for West and Central Africa launched Sahel Youth Ecobrigade Project as part of the Sahel Youth offer in response to the challenges facing the region due to climate change, rising insecurity and trafficking of small arms and light weapons. The project, implemented in two border communities of Ilela and Jibia in northwestern Nigeria, bordering the Republic of Niger, addresses young people's inability to earn a living by creating meaningful job opportunities through volunteerism and eco-entrepreneurship. The 'Yes to Greening, No to Illicit Arms trafficking Campaign' initiative creates alternative livelihood options for young people. It has also enhanced peacebuilding efforts, community social cohesion and the greening of the Sahel.
Providing jobs through this initiative enables the youth to become ambassadors and have a reason not to be recruited by extremist groups. Planting and caring for the trees in the border areas also helps them monitor the situation along the border areas and provide intel on any unusual activities to the security agents while contributing to the greening of the environment.
Through the Sahel Youth Ecobrigade Project, Mariam has been able to find alternative means of sustaining herself and her family. With the stipend she receives from the tree planting initiative, Mariam has been able to set up a food business. As one of the volunteers under the Sahel Youth Ecobrigade, Mariam has trained as a community champion, sensitising residents in the two border towns on the dangers of trafficking small arms and light weapons.
"My father told me that many years ago, our people never cut down trees, and as a result, the town did not face the issues of extended periods of drought it does now," Mariam explains. “This project helps us to see the connection between our environment and our way of life in the community. We now know that for us to change the current climate situation, we must plant more trees.”
Trees are critical to the health of both communities and the planet. They help communities to grow food, create green jobs and reduce community immigration.
Aminu Mohammed recalls how lush and green the environment in Jibia was back in the day. The young father is concerned about the changes in his community due to the effects of drought, desertification, violent conflicts, and his family's future. "We used to have many trees, but the tree coverage is disappearing. I may not be able to stop the insecurity and drought that has affected my entire community today, but I can at least start by planting trees and caring for them for a better future. Through this project, I've educated many people on the benefits of planting and conserving trees. When we cut down old trees, we must plant new ones to compensate for the lost ones.” he said.
Aminu is one of the first young people to join the project. While he is a graduate with a Master's degree in analytical chemistry from Bayero University Kano, he struggles to find meaningful employment to support his family. Aminu is among those receiving a monthly stipend from the project to help cover basic needs as they support the planting and management of trees in his community. With part of his earnings, he has started an egg distribution business to supplement his income. "Egg dealership and distribution thrives here in our community and requires a relatively small capital to start. While this doesn't look like much, I now have additional income that helps me to feed and cater for my family. With my volunteer work and the egg distributorship, I nowadays have a steady source of income and feel no pressure to look for quick ways to make money." he stated.
The project supports young people in the border communities to enhance their climate resilience and become more adaptable to climate change; improve their living conditions, and give them the tools they need to be agents of positive social change. While addressing environmental conservation issues, the project educates young people about the dangers of illegally trafficking small arms and light Weapons. This effort is improving people's lives, making them more resilientto climate change, and dealing with issues of insecurity and joblessness.
Violent extremist groups target young people in the border communities for recruitment, indoctrination, terrorist acts and the trafficking of small arms and light weapons across the border. Enhancing the resilience of border communities facing increased incidences of insecurity helps to avoid the recruitment of young people into the ranks of extremist groups. Most young people join these groups hope for opportunities to earn money to support their families financially. Providing a sustainable source of income and livelihood for young people in these areas will result in increased stability and enhanced social cohesion. Additionally, it will positively influence communities' peaceful co-existence and long-term development.
“A number of my friends had to flee from our home village of Ilela due to fear of being recruited by extremist groups,"says 19-year-old Ahmad, who lives in Ilela. “They could not live here in peace anymore as it's clear that the quality of life here is poor. In recent years, our community have become more vulnerable. No day goes by without a report of an attack on the communities, and these incidences have traumatised us and affected our daily lives. We constantly fear that an armed group will attack us anytime or destroy our community. On the other hand, young people fear being recruited into the business of trafficking small arms or extremism.”
Ahmad's experience only illustrates how youth from border communities in the Sahel face the challenge of illicit arms and extremism. Ensuring they have job opportunities makes it less attractive for them to join extremist groups.
“It is good that we can show that young people can make a difference. Through this project, we are creating awareness among our peers and community on the dangers of small arms and light weapons. The greening initiative also shows young people that there are other legitimate alternatives where one can earn money which they can invest in other business ventures of choice."
“When people think of the Sahel, they immediately think about conflict, hunger and insecurity. I see hope and a lot of potential for us.” Nafisat, a 29-year-old mother of three, is hopeful that the trees they have planted will contribute significantly to climate stability. "The climate in Jibia is currently hot, but we anticipate it will improve over time," she says.
Before joining the project, Nafisat used to sell farm products and crops. However, it was difficult for her and did not yield much profit because she purchased the goods on credit and, most of the time, could not pay the debt back on time owing to the lack of sales.
"This project created opportunities to acquire new skills and provided access to income. I purchased a sewing machine and an earring-making machine with my monthly stipend. Now I sew and produce earrings, and I can assist my husband financially with family responsibilities in my own little way."
This project has provided a better living environment for the communities. The youth and community leaders have increased their awareness of small arms and light weapons, environmental issues and climate change mitigation actions. “This is a wonderful initiative. Not only will the planting of these trees make a big difference for us, but it is also an opportunity for us to learn about what other people in other border areas are doing to help restore peace and stability,"Nafisat added. "This is a good reminder that we are all one big family in the end."
In the border communities, one way of ensuring stability is if the Governments and development actors can increase focus on reconciliation and the improvement of the livelihoods of vulnerable people, particularly young people and women. Helping young people be more resilient includes allowing them to participate and contribute meaningfully to community peacebuilding efforts. This enhances their sense of connectedness, belonging, and value, which can positively affect their mental health and well-being. Youth participation in decision-making is essential to resolving the longstanding distrust and grievances towards the administrations in these border areas. Additionally, a particular focus on marginalised communities strengthens social cohesiveness and helps different communities to live together harmoniously and utilise the available resources in a conducive manner.
Farida, like the majority of women in Ilela, married young. Soon after the birth of her second child, her life took a sudden, traumatic turn. Her husband abandoned her for greener pastures. She was forced to care for her children on her own. In the years that followed, she worked hard to support her family, taking on low-paying jobs and taking out loans. She eventually succeeded in establishing a food business. Things were beginning to look good for the 27-year-old. Then the COVID-19 Pandemic came. "My business suffered greatly as a result of the nationwide closure during COVID-19," adds Farida. "Due to limited sales, I could barely afford to buy food items and other necessities for my business." She was able to rebuild her food business in 2021 thanks to the stipend she received as a volunteer of the project. Now that the virus threat has passed, she is increasing her sales and using the profits to support her children. "My food business has grown, my income has increased, and I can now support my family." She says
Wasila Salisu, a 29-year-old mother of four who has lived in Jibia her entire life, says the project has changed her life. She used to be a stay-at-home mom who was reliant on her husband. When she learned about the project, she persuaded her husband to let her be a part of it. "I'm honoured to be a part of this initiative," she says, smiling. "The monthly stipend I receive from taking care of the trees we planted has allowed me to start my dairy farm. I'm presently rearing and selling goats, and the profits from my business supplement my husband's financial support for our family."
Violent extremism and the trafficking of small arms and light weapons in border communities can be countered by increasing economic growth, educational chances, and employment prospects for young people. Youth are often in a superior position to create a culture of peace and tolerance among their peers. They have exceptional communication and mobilising skills. Engaging and collaborating with youth as an effective and beneficial partner is a top objective in the fight against the cross-border trafficking of small arms and light weapons.
"When I heard that UNDP was looking for young people to volunteer for this project, I saw it as an opportunity to help our community and earn a living at the same time." says 25 year old Buhari Mudi, who lives in Jibia. "As someone who lives in a shelter in Jibia, I have a hard time making a living and feel like I've been forgotten. I wanted to learn something that would make me a better person," he said. Buhari spent some of his allowance learning how to make and fix shoes. He started learning a few months ago. Now he can make shoes and is able to support himself. Buhari still hopes that he can save up and get a nice place to live with the money he makes.
Before this project started, Hafiz, a 29-year-old father of 3 and a Diploma graduate from the Institute of Education in Zaria, had trained to become a tailor as he couldn't get a formal job after leaving school. The training has proved to be a good investment because he used his monthly stipend to set up a tailoring shop with his friend. "We decided to come together to build a joint business. We know that together we will have more capital and can set up a bigger business than if we worked separately. We believe this decision will bring positive outcomes in the future." says Hafiz.
He adds that they hope to grow their business and acquire a more extensive outfit that caters for the larger community. "I am grateful that this project is helping us tackle the issues of deforestation, climate change and insecurity and is also providing a means of survival for us." he continued.
For Hafiz, the tree planting project is more than just a means to survive. “I want to live in a community of peace, security and stability and less poverty.” he narrates.
At the start of the pilot phase, 50 youth were selected from border communities of Ilela and Jibia in Nigeria. Through volunteerism, they trained as Youth Ambassadors. They embarked on a tree-planting campaign to plant and care for tree seedlings while supporting the security agencies by providing information that contributed to safeguarding their communities. Each volunteer earns a monthly stipend for six months from their efforts and contribution to the initiative. So far, at least the young people have planted over 1000 tree seedlings in selected locations within their communities, including public schools and the border crossing with the Republic of Niger. The Sahel Youth Ecobrigade initiative will leverage the achievements and lessons learned to scale up to other countries in the Sahel, such as the Republic of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
The project aims to mobilise and engage over 200,000 youth to participate in massive tree planting and other greening activities while converting the young people to become youth ambassadors for peace in their communities for improved local security platforms.
In 2022, the scope of the project was scaled up and increased the footprint by planting 2500 tree seedlings (eco-friendly and specialised fruit trees) and maintaining the payment of cash stipend to the selected youth volunteers for another nine months. An additional ten women youth volunteers were added to the current group, thereby making 60 youth volunteers drawn from the two communities to complement the gender parity envisioned at the inception stage.
© 2026 UNDP NIGERIA
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