CLEEN Partners with UNDP to Strengthen Police Reform and Trauma Healing in Borno

In Maiduguri, CLEEN Foundation partnered with the UNDP to host a five-day Community Engagement Workshop on Police Reforms and Trauma Healing. Beyond policing, the partnership also emphasizes the importance of trauma healing for communities affected by conflict. Many residents of Borno have experienced significant psychological distress due to the ongoing violence. To address this, CLEEN and UNDP developed community-based trauma support services. These services offered counseling, support groups, and resilience-building activities, all designed to facilitate healing and social cohesion.

The workshop brought together traditional leaders, women and youth groups, persons with disabilities, and security actors to promote trauma awareness, trust-building, and mental health support in conflict-affected communities. Moreover, the partnership actively involved local communities in the reform process. Engaging community leaders and civil society organizations, CLEEN and UNDP aimed to ensure that the initiatives are culturally sensitive and responsive to the actual needs of the population. This inclusive approach anticipated to deepen community ownership and long-term success of the reforms.

Highlights included the development of a Charter of Demand outlining community expectations from security agencies and a drama performance celebrating resilience and collaboration. The event marked another important step toward inclusive peace-building and police accountability in Northeast Nigeria.