The World Bank has approved $300 million for a new initiative aimed at boosting access to essential services and economic opportunities for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and their host communities in northern Nigeria.

In a statement on Monday, the bank said the Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project (SOLID), approved on August 7, will use an integrated development strategy to help affected populations shift from reliance on humanitarian aid to self-reliance and resilience.

The bank noted that ongoing conflict and insecurity in the region have displaced more than 3.5 million people, putting heavy strain on infrastructure and intensifying competition for scarce resources.

According to the statement, SOLID will build on previous government and partner interventions including the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) by focusing on climate-resilient infrastructure, social cohesion, livelihood support, and institutional capacity to manage forced displacement.

“We are glad to support this initiative which has tremendous potential to help Nigeria address development challenges associated with protracted displacement in a sustainable way,” said Mathew Verghis, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria.

The bank added that the project, aligned with the National IDP Policy and the federal government’s long-term development vision, is expected to benefit up to 7.4 million people, including 1.3 million IDPs. Implementation will follow a coordinated, community-driven approach involving all tiers of government and international partners.