In late 2001 and early 2002, clashes broke out between the predominantly cattle-raring Fulanis and the mainly agrarian Mambillas in Sarduana Local Government area (also known as the Mambilla Plateau) of Taraba State in Nigeria on grazing issue. The clashes saw a significant loss of lives and properties, leading to the flight of some 38,000 Nigerians from bordering Taraba State of Nigeria into the Republic of Cameroon. Since then some returned as a result of spontaneous repatriation before UNHCR started facilitating their return in December 2004.

Till December 2005, UNHCR Nigeria received and assisted 7,401 returnees from Cameroon till the end of 2005 under a facilitated repartition programme from Cameroon into Sarduana Local Government of Taraba State. Some 3000 also returned spontaneously during the same period making total returnee population equal to 10,401 at the beginning of 2006. Returnees returned to Sarduana Local Government area with an estimated population (returnees and other communities) of 500,000). Returnee returned to Gembu (3000) (HQ of Sarduana Local Government), Karaka (500), Mayo Ndaga (1000), Dorofi (2901), Kabri (1500), Mbamga and Bang Three Corner (1500). In order to address
the root causes of recurrence of ethnic conflicts among the various ethnic groups in Sarduana Local Government, UNHCR commissioned two conflict studies by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in December 2005 and February 2006. An assessment of returnee areas for agriculture and animal husbandry related issues was carried out by Arable Crop Development and Marketing Company (ACDMC). Based on these studies UNHCR Nigeria identified key areas of intervention with a view of addressing the root causes of conflicts through much needed empowerment of the communities.

UNHCR, UNIDO, FAO, UNIFEM, UNAIDS, ILO and other UN agencies jointly agreed for interventions to overcome recurrence of ethnic conflicts by fostering peace and reconciliation through empowerment of returnees and other communities in Sarduana Local Government of Taraba State. This strategically selected set of interventions will serve to:

• Create an enabling environment that allows male and female returnees and other communities in Sardauna LGA in Taraba State to live in peace and harmony; increase access to employment opportunities by returnees and other communities.
  
• Increase sustainable access to an efficient and effective source of energy.
  
• Improve access to employment by both male and female returnees and other community members.
  
• Generate employment through SMEs and Cooperative Development, especially through Local
  Economic Development, provision of services, and stimulation of entrepreneurship.
  
• Increase capacity of existing cooperatives to contribute directly to poverty reduction among their members by providing efficient services that would increase family income.
  
• Increase access to and control of agricultural inputs and farming methods as well as marketing of agricultural products by male and female returnees and other community members.
  
• Increase market access by returnees and other communities involved in animal husbandry for selling their products to diary processing and other small scale units.
  
• Increase level of empowerment of women, especially female headed households and single mothers through skills acquisition and skills training.
  
• Provide strategic information on the HIV situation and the specific vulnerabilities of the populations within the area to HIV and the existing response structures in Sardauna Local Government.
  
• Integration of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support into the various activities and programmes targeted at the returnees and the other communities.
  
• Build local capacity to ensure increased awareness on HIV and AIDS, decrease in HIV infection rate and access to treatment, care and support for men and women living with HIV and AIDS bearing in mind their different situations and needs.