INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
The protracted armed conflict in Nigeria's Northeast, particularly in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states, has caused unprecedented humanitarian and protection crises in the region, forcing millions of women, men, and children into survival mode. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the humanitarian situation in the northeast of Nigeria, according to statistics. 59% of the 8.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in the BAY states are female; 55% of the 2.2 million IDPs are female; and the same pattern holds true for returnees (54% female), host communities (52% female), and inaccessible populations (52% female). Multiple studies have confirmed that these gendered aspects of the conflict are deeply rooted in discriminatory and unequal social norms, gender inequality, and stereotypes.

There is thus a need to understand how humanitarian operations in the Northeast can provide gender responsive humanitarian assistance by taking into account intersectional dimensions and structural factors that prevent IDPs, refugees, returnees, and host communities from accessing humanitarian assistance and meaningfully participating in the operation. This intersectional gender analysis (IGA) was premised on the assumption that updated data is required to strengthen the integration of gender and social inclusion considerations into humanitarian operations in the Northeast. The IGA provides evidence to help identify target populations, tailor responses, and allocate resources where they are most needed.

THE PURPOSE
The purpose of the IGA study was to understand the specific vulnerabilities, needs, capacities, and coping strategies of IDPs, refugees, returnees and host communities (women, girls, boys, and men) in the conflict-affected states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa in North East Nigeria; and to develop actionable recommendations for the various humanitarian response sectors.