The Life-Saving Food and Nutrition Assistance in Nigeria funding opportunity is a 2026 call for proposals aimed at NGOs delivering emergency food, nutrition, and resilience interventions in high-risk Nigerian states.

The call is designed to support life-saving assistance during Nigeria’s projected 2026 lean season, when food insecurity is expected to peak due to conflict, inflation, and climate-related shocks.

Across recent humanitarian planning cycles in Nigeria and the wider Sahel, similar partner calls have focused on rapid delivery capacity, compliance strength, and field-level operational presence, rather than pilot or experimental programming. This opportunity follows that established UN humanitarian model.

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Quick Facts

Funding Opportunity: Life-Saving Food and Nutrition Assistance in Nigeria (2026)
Attributed Funder: World Food Programme (WFP) Nigeria Country Office
Eligible Applicants: Registered NGOs and CSOs with UN Partner Portal (UNPP) verification
Geographic Focus: Northeast and Northwest Nigeria
Application Deadline: 24 February 2026 (17:00 WAT)
Application Platform: UN Partner Portal

Who is funding this opportunity and why?

The funding opportunity is attributed to the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations agency mandated to provide food assistance in emergencies and support pathways to resilience.
WFP operates in Nigeria through its Country Office, working with government institutions, UN agencies, and non-governmental partners.

The purpose of this call is to mobilise implementing partners capable of:

Preventing acute hunger during the 2026 lean season
Reducing malnutrition among vulnerable population groups
Supporting early action and resilience measures in crisis-affected communities

Humanitarian assessments consistently indicate that tens of millions of people in Nigeria remain vulnerable to food insecurity, particularly in conflict-affected northern states. This call aligns with WFP’s lifesaving and stabilisation mandate.

You may want to read about our expert guide on What Makes an NGO Grant-Ready in Africa

What are the key grant details NGOs should know?

This funding opportunity targets experienced NGOs operating in specific Nigerian regions and follows standard UN partner selection procedures.

Key grant details

Funder: World Food Programme (WFP) Nigeria
Grant Amount: Not publicly specified (activity-based budgets)
Grant Type: Implementing Partner Call for Proposals
Eligible Applicants: NGOs and CSOs
Eligible Regions:
- Northeast Nigeria: Borno, Adamawa, Yobe
- Northwest Nigeria: Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara
Deadline: 24 February 2026 (17:00 WAT)

For organisations monitoring comparable calls, see bolded internal link:
Nigeria NGO funding opportunities

Check out our 2026 definitive guide Grant Funding for NGOs in Africa

Who is eligible to apply for this funding opportunity?

Eligible applicants are legally registered NGOs and CSOs with verified UN Partner Portal accounts and demonstrated humanitarian programming capacity.
This call is not designed for newly established organisations or first-time humanitarian implementers.

Eligibility requirements include:

Valid Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration in Nigeria
Active and verified UN Partner Portal (UNPP) registration
A minimum of three years’ experience in food security or nutrition programming
Documented operational presence or access in target states and LGAs
Audited financial statements for the last two fiscal years
Established Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) policies

UNPP registration is mandatory and cannot be substituted with alternative registration platforms.

Related guidance is available via bolded internal link:
UN funding opportunities for African NGOs

What does the grant support in practice?

The grant supports integrated food assistance, nutrition, and resilience activities aligned with WFP’s humanitarian response framework.
Applicants may propose interventions under one or more thematic pillars, depending on their technical capacity.

Supported intervention areas include:

Emergency Food Assistance

In-kind food distribution in hard-to-reach or non-functional market areas
Cash-based transfers where markets are assessed as stable
Lean-season scale-up during June–August 2026

Nutrition Interventions

Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programmes (TSFP)
Nutrition support for children aged 6–59 months
Assistance for pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls (PBW/G)

Resilience and Early Action

Community-based early warning and monitoring systems
Climate-smart agriculture training and inputs
Linkages with existing government social protection mechanisms

Comparable thematic funding can be found under bolded internal link:
Food security and nutrition grants in Africa

How do NGOs apply for the Life-Saving Food and Nutrition Assistance?

Applications must be submitted exclusively through the UN Partner Portal using WFP’s standard partner application process.
Email or offline submissions are not accepted.

High-level application steps

Confirm organisational eligibility and UNPP verification status
Review the call details and annexes on the portal
Prepare technical and financial documentation using WFP templates
Submit the complete application before the deadline

Authoritative application link

https://partnerportal.wfp.org

In line with UN procedures, late or incomplete submissions are not considered.

What documents and review process should applicants expect?

Applicants are required to submit both technical and financial documentation that meets WFP compliance and assurance standards.

Common supporting documents

Technical narrative (page limits apply)
Detailed budget and budget narrative (WFP template)
Work plan and Gantt chart
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework
Audited financial statements
PSEA and safeguarding policies

Evaluation and selection process

Proposals are assessed against weighted criteria, typically including:

Technical relevance and feasibility
Organisational experience and geographic presence
Cost-effectiveness and value for money
Inclusion, protection, and accountability measures

Across recent WFP partner selections, operational readiness and compliance strength have consistently been decisive factors.

What important notes and disclaimers should NGOs consider?

This funding opportunity does not constitute a commitment by WFP to award funding and may be amended, delayed, or withdrawn.
Applicants are responsible for verifying all call details directly through official WFP platforms.

Key reminders:

Funding availability is subject to donor confirmation
Call status should be checked regularly on UNPP
FundingOpportunitis.com operates as an independent information platform and does not represent WFP

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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[saswp_tiny_multiple_faq headline-0=”h2″ question-0=”Is UN Partner Portal registration mandatory?” answer-0=”Yes. Only organisations verified on the UN Partner Portal can submit applications.” image-0=”” count=”1″ html=”true”]

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Conclusion: Should NGOs consider applying?

The Life-Saving Food and Nutrition Assistance in Nigeria funding opportunity is best suited to experienced NGOs with established humanitarian, food security, and nutrition operations.

Organisations already working in Northeast or Northwest Nigeria, and familiar with UN compliance systems, are likely to find alignment with this call.

Interested NGOs are advised to:

Verify eligibility and UNPP status early
Monitor the UN Partner Portal for updates
Bookmark or share this opportunity with relevant programme teams

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Life-Saving Food and Nutrition Assistance in Nigeria funding opportunity

Quick Facts

Who is funding this opportunity and why?