Social Work and Sustainable Livelihoods in Post-Conflict Communities of Plateau State

Post-conflict communities in Plateau State face complex social welfare challenges that demand a sustainable livelihoods approach anchored in professional social work practice. This study examines social work interventions promoting sustainable livelihoods in post-conflict communities in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria, focusing on communities in Barkin-Ladi and Riyom local government areas. A mixed-method design is employed, with 75 community members, social workers, and NGO programme staff participating through questionnaires and key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis are applied in data interpretation. The study finds that social workers contribute to livelihood recovery through skills training facilitation, savings group formation, agricultural input distribution coordination, and psychosocial support that enables conflict survivors to resume productive activities. Programme sustainability is however limited by short project cycles, inadequate local government support, and the difficulty of reaching the most trauma-affected households with economic programming. Women survivors of conflict-related sexual violence face particular barriers to livelihoods reintegration due to stigma and psychological trauma. Recommendations include integrating psychosocial support and livelihoods programming in a unified social work framework, training social workers in conflict-sensitive livelihoods programming, and establishing longer-term programme horizons that allow for genuine community ownership of livelihoods interventions. Keywords: post-conflict livelihoods, social work, Plateau State, community recovery, sustainable livelihoods