The Northeast Humanitarian Innovation Hub (NEHIH)
International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The Northeast Humanitarian Innovation Hub and Foundation is excited to announce a partnership with the International Rescue Committee in a bid to identify, incubate and match innovative ideas that tackle the problem of out of school children in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states as well as providing digital upskilling for 10,000 youths across the states. This partnership is integral for sustainable community impact which is at the heart of NEHIH vision and efforts in the Northeast region of Nigeria.
This partnership which is in line with the USAID’s Opportunities to Learn (OTL) Activity; a $25 million Cooperative Agreement implemented by the IRC that aims to address the immediate education needs of out of school children (OOSC) and youth in Northeast Nigeria through safer new and existing non-formal education, while laying a groundwork for sustainable improvement of education systems at the community and government levels. The OTL also seeks to equip OOSC and youth with the foundational skills needed to progress to higher levels of education, training and/or engagement in the workforce.
The NEHIH and Foundation is an independent social innovation enterprise dedicated to impacting social change by utilizing innovation as a strategic tool to address the humanitarian and socio-economic challenges faced by communities affected by conflict. The International Rescue Committee provides assistance and support to individuals and communities recovering from conflict, disaster, seeking protection from harm, building safer communities, and understanding their human rights. This shared Organizational goal is a unique opportunity to address the education situation in Northeast Nigeria, particularly in the BAY states. Education remains a fundamental building block for development and by addressing this challenge we can begin to reshape, rethink and revitalize the education system that is crucial for development, security and rebuilding.
(i) the Northeast EdTech Innovation Challenge (#EdTech Challenge) to crowdsource, incubate and seed fund top 3 creative and innovative ideas that tackle the educational challenges affecting OOSC and youth in Northeast Nigeria and
(ii) the #DigitalUpskill Program targeting 10,000 youth in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states to be upskilled in digital, creative and entrepreneurial skills.