Non-Governmental Organisations and Peacebuilding in Post-Boko Haram Communities of Borno State

This study evaluates the peacebuilding contributions of non-governmental organisations in post-Boko Haram communities of Borno State, North East Nigeria. The prolonged Boko Haram insurgency has devastated communities across the Lake Chad Basin region, creating widespread displacement, psychological trauma, and the collapse of social infrastructure. As the Nigerian government and international community pursue stabilisation efforts, NGOs occupy a critical intermediary space in rebuilding community relations and promoting long-term peace. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study collected quantitative data from 140 beneficiaries of NGO programmes in Maiduguri Municipal, Konduga, and Gwoza local government areas, supplemented by qualitative interviews with programme officers from five active NGOs operating in the region. The theoretical framework draws on Lederach's peacebuilding pyramid model. Findings indicate that NGO interventions in livelihood restoration, trauma-informed counselling, inter-community dialogue, and youth reintegration have produced measurable improvements in social cohesion indices within targeted communities. However, coordination gaps between NGOs, government agencies, and traditional authorities limit the sustainability of outcomes. The study recommends establishing a formal multi-stakeholder coordination platform in Borno State, increasing funding windows for locally led peacebuilding initiatives, and instituting rigorous monitoring and evaluation systems for all NGO-led reconciliation programs. Keywords: non-governmental organisations, peacebuilding, Borno State, Boko Haram, post-conflict recovery.