Giving Compass' Take:

• News Deeply reports on the ongoing conflict in northeast Nigeria that has displaced more than 2 million people from their homes. While immediate aid is needed, there is also a call for solutions to help these vulnerable people get job opportunities and rebuild their lives.

• Small grants targeted to this region are helping in fields such as agriculture, healthcare, microfinance and construction. How can the international community scale these efforts?

• Check out this article on how Nigeria is turning to technology to reduce food waste and fight hunger.

Living in fear of attacks, suicide bombings and abductions makes earning a living difficult. But, for many people living in long-term conflict, it’s the only way for them to move forward with their lives and help their societies become self-sufficient again.

Take the case of northeast Nigeria, where a nine-year-long armed conflict has forced more than 2 million people from their homes, with more than 1.5 million displaced within the country. Unfortunately it’s far from over.

Earlier this year, I visited 1,500 newly displaced people living under trees in Monguno, Nigeria. They depend on humanitarian aid to survive each day. Like many people fleeing conflict, these Nigerian families lack access to healthcare, shelter, education and, above all, safety. They will need much help in the short run.

But what about the long run? A military solution alone cannot resolve the Lake Chad conflict, which affects Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Building economic opportunities can help societies heal and can help restore social cohesion in places broken by protracted conflicts.

We at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) understand that helping people move away from humanitarian assistance handouts and toward a more sustainable way of generating income is the only way for war-torn societies to move forward.

Read the full article about grants for peace in northeast Nigeria by Patrick Youssef at News Deeply.