Women and Peacebuilding in the Lake Chad Basin: Lessons from Insurgency and Recovery in Borno State and North-East Nigeria
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin has generated one of the most devastating humanitarian and women in North-East Nigeria have been disproportionately affected by conflict through displacement, abduction, sexual violence and widowhood. This article examines the role of women in peacebuilding and recovery efforts in Borno State and the wider North-East region of Nigeria, with particular emphasis on their contributions to community reconciliation, reintegration of returnees, livelihood restoration, trauma healing, and social cohesion. The study is anchored on Human Security Theory and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda, which provide a framework for understanding the multidimensional nature of security and the importance of women’s participation in peace processes. The study adopts a qualitative review methodology based on secondary data obtained from peer-reviewed journal articles, policy documents, reports from international organizations, development agencies, and non-governmental organizations published between 2010 and 2026. Using thematic analysis, the study synthesizes existing evidence on women’s experiences and contributions within conflictaffected communities in the Lake Chad Basin. Findings reveal that women occupy a dual position as both victims of insurgency and agents of peace. Beyond their experiences of violence and displacement, women have played indispensable roles in sustaining community resilience, facilitating reconciliation, supporting reintegration processes, rebuilding local economies, and providing psychosocial support to survivors. However, women’s participation in peace building continues to be constrained by patriarchal norms, securitized recovery approaches, inadequate funding, social stigma, and persistent insecurity
Authors: Ibrahim Alkali, Khadija Mukhtar Bashir
Institution: Yobe State University
Language: English
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7167572969