Institutional Perspectives on ‍Targeting in the Humanitarian and Social Protection Sectors in North ‍East Nigeria

<p dir="ltr">This paper seeks to move beyond questions about the availability of data for targeting, to understand which institutional dynamics influence targeting approaches and success.</p><p dir="ltr">Findings show that targeting is an inherently political process in Nigeria. It is influenced by complex relations between federal and state actors, national and local actors, government, non-government, and international actors, as well as international orthodoxies and institutional mandates on targeting, and misinformation.</p><p dir="ltr">The effects of these dynamics make it difficult for targeting to adapt to changing crises or the dynamic and context-specific nature of poverty and vulnerability. This is confirmed by first-hand accounts of community members, who reveal that communities are not adequately involved in targeting decisions, and the diversity of community needs are often not sufficiently addressed.</p>