UNDP, PIND partner to drive Niger Delta investment solutions
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at driving large-scale economic growth, investment,
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at driving large-scale economic growth, investment, and sustainable development across the Niger Delta region.
The partnership was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Integrated Smart States Programme (ISSP), an initiative designed to support inclusive growth, strengthen institutions, improve climate resilience, and expand economic opportunities in Nigeria.
The agreement is expected to create a joint platform through which both organisations (UNDP and PIND) will design, finance, and implement development projects capable of attracting investment and delivering long-term benefits to communities in the Niger Delta.
The collaboration is coming at a time when development experts and policymakers are calling for more coordinated solutions to the challenges facing the region, including unemployment, environmental degradation, poverty, insecurity, and weak infrastructure.
According to the two organisations, the partnership marks a move away from isolated interventions towards integrated development programmes that combine enterprise growth, clean energy, innovation, digital transformation, and community resilience within a single framework.
The programme is also expected to connect development planning with investment mobilisation, bringing together government institutions, private sector players, civil society groups, and development finance organisations to support projects that can deliver measurable impact across several states in the Niger Delta.
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Under the arrangement, UNDP will provide its international development experience, policy advisory support, and investment mobilisation platforms, while PIND will contribute its extensive regional experience gained from over 15 years of working on peacebuilding, partnerships, and development projects in the Niger Delta.
The partnership will focus on several major areas considered critical to the economic future of the region. These include the expansion of clean and renewable energy solutions for underserved communities, support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), promotion of trade and investment opportunities, strengthening of innovation and digital technology ecosystems, and development of knowledge and data systems to support evidence-based planning.
The programme will also include conflict-sensitive approaches aimed at ensuring that economic opportunities are supported by peace and stability in local communities.
Speaking on the significance of the agreement, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, said the collaboration would improve the ability of both organisations to deliver practical and scalable development solutions across the region.
She said: “This collaboration reflects the importance of integrated, multi-sectoral approaches to development. By combining UNDP's global experience with PIND's deep regional knowledge, we are strengthening our ability to deliver solutions that are scalable, inclusive, and responsive to local realities while unlocking pathways for investment and long-term impact.”
Also speaking, the Executive Director of PIND, Sam Ogbemi Daibo, described the partnership as an important step towards building stronger systems that connect economic growth with peacebuilding and resilience.
According to him, “This partnership represents a significant step in strengthening systems that connect economic opportunity, peacebuilding, and resilience. Together with UNDP, we are well-positioned to scale solutions that are locally grounded, investment-ready, and capable of delivering lasting impact across the Niger Delta.”
Both organisations explained that the MoU will provide a long-term framework for cooperation, allowing them to jointly develop and expand programmes while attracting support from public and private sector institutions.
The agreement is also expected to strengthen efforts to mobilise catalytic investments into the Niger Delta by encouraging stronger collaboration among governments, businesses, philanthropic organisations, civil society groups, and development partners.
As part of the next phase of implementation, the two organisations said they would begin work on a three-year joint programme document and financing framework. They also plan to establish a Joint Technical Working Group that will coordinate implementation efforts and identify investment-ready projects that can attract strategic partnerships and funding for the region.
The partnership is expected to grow into a multi-state and multi-partner platform that will contribute to Nigeria's broader efforts to promote inclusive economic growth, strengthen resilience, and achieve sustainable development outcomes in the Niger Delta.
