Refugee Camp Management and International Burden-Sharing: Nigeria’s Experience in the North East

This study examines Nigeria's management of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the North East geopolitical zone and its engagement with international humanitarian burden-sharing frameworks, focusing on the institutional and diplomatic dimensions of humanitarian response to displacement caused by the Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgencies. The North East humanitarian crisis, centred in Borno State, represents one of the most complex IDP situations in sub-Saharan Africa, with millions of displaced persons dependent on national and international humanitarian systems. Drawing on humanitarian diplomacy theory and international burden-sharing frameworks, this research analyses Nigeria's engagement with UNHCR, the World Food Programme, and key bilateral donors in managing the North East humanitarian response from 2019 to 2024. The study employs a qualitative methodology, drawing on UN OCHA situation reports, NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency) documentation, donor conference records, and semi-structured interviews with humanitarian coordination staff. Attention is paid to the diplomatic management of access restrictions, aid diversion concerns, and the coordination between military and civilian humanitarian actors. Findings are expected to show significant coordination gaps between federal and state governments and international partners, with diplomatic access constraints limiting humanitarian reach. Recommendations address the reform of Nigeria's humanitarian diplomatic engagement architecture. Keywords: IDP, humanitarian diplomacy, North East Nigeria, burden-sharing, Boko Haram.