Development cooperation project: Niger as part of the EU’s migration partnerships

West Africa in general, and Niger specifically, have traditionally been characterised by major migration flows. However, even for Niger, the scale of current migration is new and proving challenging. The Agadez region in the north of the country is particularly affected. The high number of migrants threatens the provision of food, education and municipal services to the resident population.

The German Government is providing support to the country within the EU’s Migration Partnership Framework with a view to creating income and employment opportunities for the local population and tackling the causes of migration. To this end, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has provided EUR 6.5 million to increase the value of existing projects implemented by GIZ. The aim is to improve living conditions and future prospects for the people of Niger living in Agadez. The projects are primarily aimed at particularly poor population groups with few economic prospects.

Supplementary component: Programme for rural development and productive agriculture: promotion of productive agriculture (PROMAP), (EUR 2 million)

The component provides support to municipalities with creating and implementing land use planning in order to make agricultural production in the Sahel region as sustainable as possible. This improves management of groundwater resources and renders agricultural production more sustainable. For example, riverbanks are reinforced and soils protected from severe erosion. As part of the Cash-for-Work employment scheme, the local population is building earth and stone constructions to prevent loss of arable land and use water for field irrigation. In this way, harvests are assured and the population can generate additional income.

Young people will also be trained in aspects of agriculture and prepared for self-employment. The component will serve to develop and equip up to two agricultural training centres for this purpose.

Anticipated results: Around 2,000 hectares of land will be rehabilitated and 30 kilometres of riverbank protected. These measures will benefit 3,000 rural households with approx. 20,000 people.

Supplementary component: Programme to support decentralisation and good governance (ProDEC) (EUR 1 million)

The programme is using the additional funding to develop a participatory and integrated waste management system for solid household waste. It supports the relevant municipal services of the city of Agadez with waste collection through Cash-for-Work measures and advises the municipalities on improving waste disposal and public hygiene.

Anticipated results: Up to 6,500 people, 70% of whom are women and 30% young people, have been mobilised to improve and develop municipal waste disposal facilities and landfill sites. This has enabled them to boost their income. Furthermore, selected local producers have been able to produce at least 10% more working materials geared to waste disposal and create additional jobs.

Supplementary component: Basic Education Programme (BEP) (EUR 1.5 million)

The special funding is being used to implement a reading and writing initiative and provide further training for urgently needed in-service primary school teachers in the Agadez region. Men and women from various professional groups acquire basic knowledge in reading, writing and arithmetic. This enables them to access further training for their activities in a trade or agriculture and improve their income. The vocational training measure for in-service teachers creates longer-term employment prospects for participants and helps to improve learning outcomes for primary school teachers.

Anticipated results: Around 2,000 men and women aged between 15 and 35 are taught to read and write and improve their income prospects. Up to 700 primary school teachers have completed an accredited training course and in so doing improved both their career opportunities and the quality of their teaching.

Supplementary component: Supporting the Dispositif National for the prevention and management of food crises and disasters (DNSA) (EUR 2 million)

Funds are used by the project to improve food security for the population of Agadez. Activities include distribution of food to vulnerable households as a relief measure, short-term Cash-for-Work employment measures, provision of food to school canteens and distribution of relief supplies to victims of natural disasters, such as annual flooding.

Anticipated results: Around 4,000 vulnerable households are provided with food and up to 5,000 schoolchildren receive two meals a day in 25 school canteens. In addition, the component provides relief supplies to around 1,000 households affected by natural disasters.