Making Evidence Matter What Four Decades of IFPRI Engagement in Nigeria Teach about Policy Influence

By Tamsin Zandstra and Hashim AhmedSeptember 24, 2026

Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa, and the sixth most populated country in the world. 

Despite its large population and regional importance, the country faces significant humanitarian challenges. As of
October 2025, 2.29 million people had been displaced by violence and insecurity, particularly in the northeast, where
recurring conflict has persisted for over a decade. By 2026 an estimated 35 million people are projected to face acute
food insecurity. 

Against this backdrop, policymakers must navigate a complex landscape of competing priorities and overlapping
pressures. Food insecurity, climate shocks, inflation, unfavorable terms of trade, and fiscal constraints all demand
urgent attention, often forcing difficult trade-offs. In such circumstances, generating and applying timely, credible
evidence to inform policy decisions is critical.

For more than four decades, IFPRI has supported evidence-based policymaking in Nigeria across agriculture, food
security, and rural development. What began in the 1980s as Washington-based analytical research has evolved into a
deep and sustained partnership through the Nigeria Strategy Support Program (NSSP). Over time, IFPRI’s engagement
has expanded beyond research to encompass policy advisory support, institutional strengthening, capacity
development, knowledge sharing, and collaboration with government agencies and development partners.

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