The convergence marked the 2023 MHPSS & Protection Conference—a pivotal event convened by JDPC Maiduguri in partnership with Caritas Germany. The room buzzed with anticipation, not just for presentations, but for a shared commitment: to elevate trauma recovery and protection across Northeast Nigeria.Participants listened intently as frontline professionals shared experiences from conflict‑affected communities. Speeches and panel discussions emphasized that mental health and protection cannot exist in silos—they must be integrated. The audience included survivors, social workers, religious actors, local authorities, and service providers, all united by the belief that recovery demands both empathy and systems.
Themes That Resonated
During breakout sessions and plenary talks, several key themes emerged:
- Integration of Protection into Psychosocial Work
Presenters underlined that support services must safeguard confidentiality, safety, and consent. A trauma healing intervention that lacks protection can re‑traumatize. - Collaboration Across Sectors
True impact depends on synergy: mental health actors working with protection units, health services, education, local governance, and faith institutions. No sector can recover alone. - Contextual Adaptation and Local Ownership
Speakers called for culturally sensitive models that reflect Borno’s languages, customs, and community norms. Outside interventions must be grounded in local realities—and led by local actors. - Capacity Building and Sustainability
The conference emphasized training local staff, caregivers, and youth volunteers to become ongoing agents of change. Building capacity is more sustainable than short-term delivery. - Monitoring, Accountability, and Evidence
Another recurring message: humanitarians must document outcomes, track progress, and publish learning—so that funding, policies, and programming can evolve responsively and justly.
Reflections & Next Steps for Salama Centre
As Salama Centre, our engagement in such forums shapes how we grow and adapt. The conference reaffirmed our philosophy: healing must be safe, inclusive, participatory, and contextually grounded.
We intend to:
- Deepen the integration of protection protocols in all MHPSS services
- Strengthen partnerships with local NGOs, government bodies, and faith groups
- Expand training for community psychosocial workers and protection focal persons
- Design monitoring systems that capture not just activity counts, but changes in well‑being, trust, and cohesion
- Advocate for sustained funding and local leadership of psychosocial recovery
