Medical Coordinator – Nigeria – M/F

ALIMA IN NIGERIA

Security context : 

Boko Haram was founded in Maiduguri in the early 2000s, opposing Western education and advocated for a strict interpretation of Islamic law and practice. Over time, Boko Haram’s ideology transformed into that of a radical Islamist movement that seeks to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria, engaging in violence, assassinations, bombings, and suicide attacks across an expanded operating range. In 2016, Boko Haram split into two major factions, the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and a faction known as JAS. Between 2015 and 2018, fighting between these factions and between these factions and government forces caused an influx of 2 million IDPs into Maiduguri. Borno State has been the epicenter of Boko Haram’s activities, enduring the most destruction and violence.  The conflict has resulted in widespread displacement, death, destruction of infrastructure, and disruption of essential services. Food insecurity, limited access to healthcare, and disruptions in the educational system have disproportionately affected rural and remote communities.  Boko Haram’s modus operandi also includes suicide bombing, insurgency, territorial control, kidnapping and abductions, targeting educational institutions such as schools and schoolchildren, levying communities, arson, murders, and media propaganda.  Despite the group’s fragmentation, the name Boko Haram is sometimes used to refer to all of the groups in news and reports, particularly when it is difficult to determine which faction is responsible for an event. Much of Yobe state is also impacted by Boko Haram, with ISWAP controlling most of the territory.

Abuja generally has a relatively stable security situation compared to some other regions in the country. However, it’s essential to note that security conditions have evolved over time. Abuja is the political and administrative capital, and efforts are made to maintain a secure environment. However, increasingly, there are cases of abductions, kidnappings and other forms of insecurity in and around Abuja. In the past, Boko Haram and other splinter groups like ISWAP have carried out attacks in Abuja, including in 2022, with consistent threats in 2023.    

Katsina state has a history of banditism and cattle rustling since 2014 but from 2019 it reached a new peak with LGAs on the Western and Northwestern borders with Zamfara state and Niger Republic having real security issues. Attacks are directed at soft targets, including kidnapping in those areas. However, Katsina, which is the capital, is relatively calm and peaceful, including the Kaita, the LGA where the ITFC is located. 

Owo, located in the South West of Nigeria, is one of the major towns in Ondo state. It is relatively peaceful. Most of the incidents are related to criminality, robbery, piracy and cattle herders vs farmers conflict. However, 3 high impact incidents happened in 2022: 2 kidnapping incidents in May 2022 (targeting the road construction company) and massacre at the church of Saint Francis in June 2022 (unclaimed incident). Political tension and cult related selective violence prompted by local elections have been observed.

In Yobe and Katsina states, international staff are profiled due to the risk of kidnapping for ransom. In Owo, visits of non-African profiles are limited to 72 hours on the ground due to kidnapping risk.

Humanitarian context : 

There are significant and severe humanitarian needs across Nigeria, caused by poverty – further deepened by high rates of inflation – lack of access to basic services, weak rule of law, widespread insecurity and criminality, and the impact of climate change.  

Thirteen years on, the conflict in Nigeria’s north-east states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY states) continues unabated. The impact of the conflict in the BAY states, home to some 16 million people, has created a protracted humanitarian and protection crisis affecting millions of people. The protection of civilians remains a major concern. A fundamental resolution to the conflict is not expected in the foreseeable future. Already vulnerable people are facing additional risks due to climate change impacts on food security and other needs, as well as disease outbreaks. The crisis has devastated civilian infrastructure and livelihoods, leaving many dependent on humanitarian assistance and in urgent need of access to basic services. ALIMA is present in the Maiduguri area only in Borno state due to high insecurity and risks for humanitarians outside the city limits.

The North-West despite high humanitarian needs and high rates of malnutrition is not considered as a humanitarian zone by most donors. There has been a lot of advocacy in the past 2 years by MSF, ALIMA, IRC and others leading to increased donor funding which remains insufficient. However, ALIMA has been present in Kaita LGA in Katsina state since 2021 and has recently expanded to Katsina and Batagarawa LGAs. Not all needs are covered and MSF has recently pulled out of Katsina LGA leaving a gap in nutrition.

Ondo state is not considered as a humanitarian zone. However, ALIMA is present due to endemic Lassa fever and a yearly peak with high mortality rates.

Ongoing projects : 

ALIMA has been present in Nigeria since 2016. Its actions are part of a regional response strategy to health and nutrition emergencies, with a focus on pediatric, maternal-infant and epidemic interventions. ALIMA is present in North-East Nigeria, in Borno State (MMC and Jere LGAs) and in Yobe State (Bade and Karasuwa LGAs), where it provides outpatient and inpatient healthcare and nutrition services for IDPs and host communities. In North-West Nigeria, ALIMA is in Katsina State (Kaita, Batagarawa and Katsina LGAs) to respond to increased nutritional needs and, currently in Kano State to respond to the Diphtheria outbreak until end of April 2024. ALIMA is present in the South-West, in Ondo State (Owo LGA), where teams are treating patients for Lassa fever and conducting research into improved treatment.

Partnership(s), if applicable : 

In Nigeria, our main partner is the Ministry of Health. However, it is one of the mission’s objectives to identify potential local partners in some of all of our states of intervention.

ALIMA works in consortium with IRC (consortium lead), COOPI and LHI in Katsina state with funds from BHA.

Mission budget : 

Over the past years, ALIMA Nigeria was able to provide life-saving medical assistance to more than 1 million individuals.

ALIMA Nigerian Mission was able to generate more than € 10 million in 2023, a significant increase from previous years, thanks to the generosity of our donors. 

The mission had 12 active donors in 2023, enabling the Nigeria mission to expand its operations to encompass two more LGAs in the North West, as well as respond to the government’s appeal for assistance during the diphtheria outbreak in Kano.

Major Donors: Over the years, and particularly in 2023, our major donor has been the European Union, through its Emergency funds, which has allowed us to provide emergency medical assistance to over 240,000 beneficiaries in Borno, Kano, Yobe and Katsina States, as well as support for our Lassa fever research initiatives through the European Commission’s Directorate for Environmental Research and Innovation.

BHA, Unicef, Givewell, CRI, the Eleanor Crook Foundation and others are among the mission’s donors

ALIMA’s teams in Nigeria represent about 25 expatriates and more than 150 national staff.

FUNCTIONAL AND HIERARCHICAL LINKS

• Reports to the Head of Mission
• His or her technical referent is the Medical Desk referent
• Is the referent of the Medical Referent and/or Medical Activity Manager of the project(s)  
• Collaborates with the Field Project Coordinators, Coordination Team

MISSION ET OBJECTIVES

The medical coordinator must define the objectives and technical orientations of the mission, propose strategies consistent with the medical and humanitarian needs of the areas of intervention and provide technical support to all the medical teams of the mission.

TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Analyzes, defines and adjusts the medical objectives of ALIMA projects in the country of mission

• Data collection
• Analyzes, interprets and defines the medical-operational strategy of the mission

Implementation of ALIMA programs

• Medical project opening
• Contributes to the organization of medical projects
• Participates in the pharma management of projects

Support for research projects.

Monitoring and evaluation of projects

Representation and communication

Capacity building and team facilitation

Team health

Implementation of prevention measures against abuse of power, gender-based and sexual violence

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