We are proud to share progress on the Network on Conflict-Affected Agriculture in Nigeria, a collaborative research project between the Innovation Lab for Policy Leadership in Agriculture and Food Security (PiLAF) at the University of Ibadan, serving as the partner organisation, and the Centre for Peace and Conflict Research at University College Dublin (UCD).
Funded by Research Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs, this New Foundations project commenced in January 2025 and is scheduled to conclude in October 2025. The project is led by Dr. Caitriona Dowd of University College Dublin, with Dr. Olutosin Otekunrin leading PiLAF’s efforts from the University of Ibadan, in collaboration with colleagues including Irene Anetor and under the guidance of Prof. Adegbenga Adekoya.
With projections indicating that more than 33 million people in Nigeria could face acute food insecurity in 2025, largely as a result of violent conflict, this research network brings together experts in conflict studies, agricultural development, and economics to investigate the complex relationship between violent conflict and smallholder agriculture in Nigeria. The initiative aims to identify key research gaps, map existing evidence, and develop innovative, evidence-based solutions to strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers and promote sustainable food security in conflict-affected regions.
On 30 September 2025, the project team presented its research outputs at a stakeholder workshop held at the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) in Dublin. The event provided an opportunity to share findings, discuss their implications for agricultural and food security policy, and foster dialogue among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
As part of this collaboration, the project has produced significant publications that contribute to a growing body of evidence on the intersection of conflict and agriculture in Nigeria. These include:
1. The Impact of Violent Conflict on Smallholder Agriculture: A Scoping Review (ConAg Working Paper No. 1)
Link: https://figshare.com/articles/preprint/The_impact_of_violent_conflict_on_smallholder_agriculture_A_scoping_review_ConAg_Working_Paper_No_1/30091075?file=57816151
2. Violent Conflict and Smallholder Agriculture in Nigeria: Mapping Available Data and Remaining Gaps
Link: https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Violent_Conflict_and_Smallholder_Agriculture_in_Nigeria_Mapping_available_data_and_remaining_gaps/30091000
For more information about the project and its recent outputs, visit the UCD Centre for Peace and Conflict Research page: https://www.ucd.ie/cpcr/newsandevents/cpcrcurrentevents/newfoundationsresearchproject/
This collaboration underscores PiLAF’s commitment to advancing evidence-based agricultural and food security policies that respond to the challenges posed by conflict, climate, and vulnerability in Nigeria and across Africa.
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