“Do Nothing for Us, Without Us”: Conflict-Induced Displacement and Humanitarian Interventions in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Protracted conflict has rendered over two million people homeless in Benue State, Nigeria. Literature abounds on stakeholders’ support; however, there is a dearth of empirical studies that document how actors are adopting Participatory Action Research Model. This study argues that the inability of some actors to adequately shift the balance of power and decision-making toward a more contextually sensitive and locally driven approach, that allows beneficiaries (Internally Displaced Person [IDP]) to become stakeholders in priority project design and implementation, has continued to affect project outcome adversely. Oral interviews and questionnaires were proportionally distributed. Qualitative data were content and thematically analyzed; while quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square method to ascertain the truth content. Rejecting the following null hypotheses (200.8 > 3.841, 24.6 > 3.841, and 139 > 3.841), respectively, the study found that humanitarian crisis has had profound effects on IDP; Participatory Action Research has significant impacts; and actors face significant challenges.