The Niger Delta is a place of frustrated expectations and deep rooted mistrust where widespread restiveness frequently erupts in violence. Long years of neglect and conflict have fostered a siege mentality, especially among youths who feel they are condemned to future without hope, and see conflict, violence, theft and kidnapping as a strategic escape.  The revenues from oil and gas exploration available for development actions carry the promise of rapid socio-economic transformation. In reality, the Niger Delta is suffering from administrative neglect, crumbling social infrastructure and social services, high unemployment, social deprivation, poverty, and endemic conflict.

Lack of trust among some of the socio-ethnic groups living in the Niger Delta contribute to conflict and inhibits political organisation among disadvantaged communities. Progress on poverty reduction in Nigeria has been generally slow, which is attributed to divergent and unclear development policies, resistance to change, low levels of support per capita from international donors, external debt servicing by government (which was solved in 2006 and 2007) and widespread corruption. This has eaten deep into all systems and structures of the administration.

The aforementioned and a follow-up to the MPP3 and MPP6 programmes in the Niger Delta region was the reason for the initiation of the MPP9.

The project with an overall budget of 45,500,000 EUR (approximately 9.1 Billion Naira) EDF contribution and the total overall cost of 71,500,000 EUR with the community and the Local Government Authorities contributing the balance; will be implemented in the Nine Niger Delta States of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross river, Edo, Imo, Ondo, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa States in joint partnership with the Local Government Authorities and the communities. The project will institute reforms, resulting in Local Government and State Authorities increasingly providing infrastructural services, income generating options, sustainable livelihoods development, gender equity and community empowerment, through offering models of transparency and participation. The involvement of Local Governments in funding Micro‑projects will enhance impact and sustainability. In the four years of implementation the project will implement about 1200 Micro Projects aimed at reducing poverty at the community and thus reducing social tension and enshrining reforms in the Local Government Structures.