Niger

Famine is still a major threat in certain communities in Niger and child malnutrition rates are particularly high. In 2012, the government of Niger adopted a strategic framework for Food and Nutritional Security and Sustainable Agricultural Development (SAN/DAD), known as the 3N Initiative: “Nigeriens nourishing Nigeriens”, with a related action plan. The objective for 2035 is to ensure that the country's inhabitants are protected from hunger and malnutrition over the long term and to provide them with opportunities to work in the national production sector and increase their income. 

With 12 projects currently underway (7 national projects amounting to €145 million and 5 regional projects), AFD is improving food security in almost all of Niger's regions, through:

• local and territorial development
• natural resource management and the development of production in the agro-sylvo-pastoral sector (production, processing and marketing)
• institutional support for organizations involved in the prevention and management of food crises.

Niger's population is growing at 3.9% per year, putting considerable strain on its education system. Nearly 80% of children are now enrolled in school, a figure which has doubled in 15 years. However, the country is struggling to provide its young people with quality schooling and employment, and has many issues to address: teacher management and training, adapting education to economic conditions, and illiteracy.

For example, the government of Niger has adopted a proactive policy to improve the quality of its education system (Education and Training Sector Program 2014-2024). AFD is therefore supporting the government in its efforts by applying a program-based approach to education policy and by backing projects that target vulnerable young people in crisis areas:

• AFD is responsible for coordinating the partners of the Education Sector Common Fund, set up by the Niger government in order to pool financing for education, and is supporting the implementation of the Education and Training Sector Transition Program (Programme de Transition Sectoriel de l’Education et de la Formation - PTSEF), by providing grants and delegating funds, in particular, from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
• AFD is financing two social and vocational integration projects for young people in the Diffa region and the department of Bilma.
• AFD is supporting the project led by the NGO Aide et Action, which aims to reduce school dropout rates in several districts of Niamey.

Niger is a desert country located in the heart of the Sahel. It can be difficult to access drinking water due to a lack of specific infrastructure, and there are major disparities in facilities between rural and urban areas. To address the sector's major challenges, in 2017, Niger launched a number of ambitious programs to facilitate access to water and sanitation and improve water management.
While the country has significant potential in the energy sector, very few households currently have access to electricity. To meet the growing energy demand, Niger has launched major electricity generation and distribution projects, with the aim of diversifying its electricity production mix and securing its supply.

AFD is helping to facilitate access to water and energy in Niger through:

• several production projects (a hybrid power plant in Agadez, a photovoltaic power plant in Gorou Banda and a dam in Kandadji), to expand and manage electricity grids in urban and rural areas,
• a number of financing projects in collaboration with the water utility (SPEN) and the Ministry of Hydraulics respectively, to supply drinking water to the city of Niamey and the region of Tillabéri.

Niger's health statistics are a cause for concern: life expectancy is limited to 61.9 years and the rate of infant malnutrition is 43%. This is due in part to an aging infrastructure, isolation of the population and a shortage of human and medical resources. 

To address this, in 2015 the Government set up a National Health Policy and a Health Development Plan to improve the standard of health care for Nigeriens.

AFD is providing assistance through two projects:

• Since 2006, we have been contributing to the Common Health Fund in order to coordinate actions with the Health Development Plan.
• Since 2014, we have been participating in the Sahel Solidarity Health initiative to improve the health of mothers and children.

We are also looking to finance one project to assist the demographic transition and another to combat chronic malnutrition in the Sahel, with the Gates Foundation.

To improve governance of public institutions and support government-led initiatives throughout the country, AFD is financing one project focused on legal justice in Niger, and another backing the State and public services in their emergency response to areas in crisis (Diffa and Tillabéri).

AFD has also pledged to support public finance reform to mobilize domestic resources, through a €30 million public policy grant and technical project assistance.

In addition, AFD has enlisted technical support from the National Agency for the Information Society (ANSI) to develop the government of Niger’s digital services.