Life-Saving Food and Nutrition Assistance in Nigeria funding opportunity

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

1. Confirm organisational eligibility and UNPP verification status
2. Review the call details and annexes on the portal
3. Prepare technical and financial documentation using WFP templates
4. 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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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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