History of CARE in Nigeria

CARE began work in Nigeria in 2017, in response to the protracted humanitarian crisis in the northeast of the country.

In this section

CARE Nigeria is one of the many country offices of CARE. Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE is an acronym for Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, and is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty.

The story of CARE started in Nigeria long before the establishment of a Country Office. In 2001/2002, the Regional Office for West Africa started implementing cross-border programming in Nigeria.

As a result of the protracted humanitarian crisis in the northeast region of the country, CARE was officially registered in Nigeria with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on 27th of April 2017, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Nigeria to implement development and humanitarian relief assistance to affected populations in Nigeria. Our program implementation focused specifically on Borno and Yobe States, with Reproductive Health and Food Security Projects. Our first donors were CARE USA, CARE Canada, and the World Food Programme (WFP). Our focus areas are selected for relevancy and responsiveness.

Since 2017, we have reached over 3.1 million people with lifesaving humanitarian assistance in Food and Nutrition, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, Protection, and Violence Against Women and Girls, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. From Borno and Yobe, the first two states where CARE started its implementation in Nigeria, we extended our presence to Kebbi, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Bauchi, Adamawa, Kogi, Niger, and, most recently, to Oyo, Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Sokoto, and Katsina as of 2024. CARE supports longer-term efforts that strengthen resilience, improve social service systems, and influence federal and state policies.

CARE Nigeria launched our Advisory Committee, a pool of national experts and supporters with the key mandate to advise CARE Nigeria and its partners on matters that will strengthen and enhance the quality, scale, and impact of our development and humanitarian programs in service to communities and families that are disproportionately impacted by extreme poverty and social injustice.

We are piloting the Community of CARE, where its members shall contribute and share their expert knowledge and understanding of the Nigerian development and humanitarian sectors, policy environment, and funding landscape.

What CARE Nigeria does

In line with CARE’s localization agenda, CARE Nigeria is working with local women-led organizations to build capacities. Our work in Nigeria focuses on:

Humanitarian Preparedness & Response
Food Systems & Livelihoods
Justice for Women and Girls
Right to Health & Nutrition

Where CARE Works in Nigeria

In 2024, CARE works in over 118 countries and reaches more than 53 million people through 1,450 projects. In Nigeria, since 2017, CARE has reached more than 3,126,834 people across 14 states.

OUR MISSION AND VISION

All parts of CARE work across the globe to achieve our mutual vision of a world of hope, inclusion, and social justice.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR MISSION

History of CARE

CARE has been around for over 78 years. Starting as the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe (CARE) in 1945, CARE takes possession of 2.8 million “10-in-1” military food rations known as CARE package during World War 2. CARE and partners now work in 109 countries, reaching 167 million people around the world through poverty-fighting development and humanitarian aid programs.

In 1945, CARE delivered its first CARE Packages to Le Havre, France, and by the end of the year, it had operations in 10 European nations. CARE expanded its CARE Package to include soap, textiles, toys, seed programs, and self-help agricultural projects. In 1950, CARE participated in famine relief in Yugoslavia, Pakistan, and India, and began Korean War relief.

With Europe on the road to recovery, CARE found itself increasingly involved in Asia and Latin America providing supplies to war-torn areas. In 1952, CARE opened its first mission in Mexico, marking its entry into Latin America and when five more missions open in Latin America, the “E” in CARE becomes “Everywhere.”

A feeding program was launched in Egypt which becomes the largest feeding program ever undertaken. CARE Packages now represent 25% of expenditures as programs diversify.

1945 - 1955

The Beginning: War and Recovery

CARE's global presence fluctuates over the next decade, responding to political shifts and emergencies. CARE supports Hungarian refugees, initiates a school feeding program in the Philippines, and aids war victims in Gaza, Tibet, and Cuba. CARE also responds to natural disasters in various countries.

CARE reaches Africa and expands its offerings beyond immediate and short-term relief to more long-term assistance in the form of recovery and rehabilitation. CARE opened its first non-Arab African missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone and delivered the 50 millionth CARE Package in Colombia in 1963.

1956 - 1965

New Frontiers

Between 1966 and 1975, CARE transitioned to a development organization that provided aid to disaster areas, including family planning programs in Egypt, education programs, and war relief efforts in Vietnam and Nigeria-Biafra. CARE also responded to natural disasters in various countries.

In 1967, CARE Europe formed to raise funds from European donors, and the last 100 million CARE Packages were sold.

1966 - 1975

Leading Global Development

CARE’s longer-term development programs increasingly began focusing on ways to improve the status of women and girls and encourage their greater participation.

CARE's evolution in the next decade focuses on training national staff to take over local operations. The organization's operations are shaped by the changing world. After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, CARE resumes relief efforts for Afghan refugees fleeing to Pakistan.

CARE International is established in 1982. Women's development programs expand internationally, including primary health care and income generation. In 1983, CARE expands rapidly in Africa, and in 1985, the worst famine in a century grips the continent.

1976 – 1985

New Programs: Local Leadership

CARE, a humanitarian organization, continues to provide aid across the globe during famine relief, despite donor fatigue and decreased cash donations. The organization's management structure evolves with regional management units and formal sector work.

In 1992, CARE expanded its largest year of expansion after the collapse of the Soviet Union, moving its headquarters from New York to Atlanta and changing its name to "Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere."

In 1993, CARE committed to focusing on women and girls as key agents of change in fighting poverty.

In 1995, CARE celebrates its first 50 years and marks a record year in funding and programmatic scale. Over the next two years, CARE adopts a service delivery model focused on household livelihood, local partnerships, enhanced advocacy initiatives and select global operations.

1986 – 1995

Responding in a Changing World: The Birth of a New CARE - “Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere”.

CARE has become a global leader in key thematic areas such as agriculture, education, health, community well-being, small-scale entrepreneurial activity, water sanitation, and women's empowerment to defeat poverty.

In the post-Cold War Era, CARE tackles poverty through empowerment, equity, sustainability, and strengthening civil society. Despite the challenges of terrorism, war, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic, CARE continues its pursuit of a world free from poverty and social injustice through community development, emergency response, and rehabilitation programs.

In 2005, CARE focused on core programming, including basic and girls' education, emergency response, HIV/AIDS, and water and sanitation. The organization collaborated on the ONE Campaign, developed the CARE Action Network, and supported post-tsunami aid and the global water crisis.

1996 - 2005

The New Millennium: Empowerment, Equity, Sustainability, Advocacy

The organization adopted a focus on women and girls through Pathways to Empowerment and signature programs in maternal health, education, leadership, and economic opportunity.

CARE’s understanding of poverty has grown over decades of experience, helping us to address poverty’s root causes. CARE is a leading responder to food crises and droughts across the globe.

2006 – 2015

Women and Girls at the Center while working alongside men and boys

CARE, an international NGO, has been working to alleviate poverty in over 64 million people since its 60th anniversary in 2016. The organization has adopted new tools to track its impact globally, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals.