Niger
Official Name: Republic of Niger
Capital: Niamey
Independence Day: 3 August 1960
Currency: CFA franc (XOF)
Key Result
Niger is among the countries that endorsed the continent’s first Model Law on Medical Products Regulation in January 2016 to improve access to quality and safe drugs as well as fight the circulation of fake medical products on the continent.
Niger is among the African countries that are promoting Decent Rural Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship as a result of participation in the Inaugural Africa Rural Development Forum held in May, 2013 in Cotonou.
A total of 775,000 women have benefited from six projects implemented by the NEPAD Spanish Fund for the Empowerment for African Women in Niger.
Niger is working towards increasing its renewable energy generation capacity through involvement in the Solar – Desertec Sahara Solar Project which promotes the generation of electricity in North Africa, the Middle East and Europe using renewable sources, such as solar power plants and wind parks.
The Country is benefiting from the Trans Sahara Highway project through the construction of a 225-km-long missing link from Assamakka to Arlit, Niger at a cost of USD102 million.
The 4,500km optic fibre line from Algeria to Nigeria also includes Niger and resources have been provided by the African Development Bank (AfDB) for feasibility studies for the Niger and Chad segment.
Niger is also a beneficiary of the Dakar-Niamey Multimodal Corridor programme which is designed to modernise the most heavily travelled ARTIN corridor in West Africa and facilitate trade, OSBPs and PPPs.
85 Million hectares of land on the continent have been committed for restoration through the application of the restoration opportunities assessment methodology. To date, Niger has committed 3.2 million hectares.
Niger is increasing access to financial instruments such as insurance associated with credit, productive safety nets, access to markets, storage facilities and improved producer remuneration through market reform and strengthening of cooperatives and producers’ associations.
Niger also received USD33 million from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) to contribute to poverty alleviation by boosting rural production and enhancing food security in vulnerable areas.
Related
Projects
African Medicines Regulatory Harmonisation (AMRH)
A critical AU Model Law aimed at harmonizing medical products regulatory systems in Africa was endorsed by African Heads of State and Government at the January 2016 AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The AU Model Law will contribute towards accelerate the regulation of safe, quality and affordable medical products and technologies in Niger.
The West Africa Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (MRH) programme was launched in 2015 in Accra, Ghana. Niger participated in the establishment of the joint MRH Project Steering Committee and formation of 7 Technical Working Groups (TWG’s). The TWG’s are tasked with developing technical guidelines of the MRH programme. In addition, a joint framework of collaboration between WAHO and WAEMU has been agreed upon.
Food and Nutrition Security
The fourth Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security was held in Niamey, Niger in October and was attended by high-level stakeholders, including government representatives from various related sectors as well as NGOs, UN agencies, the private sector, farmers and others. This is an annual advocacy event, as decided by the AU heads of states and governments in 2010, where progress reports and best practices on various food and nutrition projects are shared and advocacy carried out to inform better planning and implementation.
Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)
A critical AU Model Law aimed at harmonizing medical products regulatory systems in Africa was endorsed by African Heads of State and Government at the January 2016 AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The AU Model Law will contribute towards accelerate the regulation of safe, quality and affordable medical products and technologies in Niger.
The West Africa Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (MRH) programme was launched in 2015 in Accra, Ghana. Niger participated in the establishment of the joint MRH Project Steering Committee and formation of 7 Technical Working Groups (TWG’s). The TWG’s are tasked with developing technical guidelines of the MRH programme. In addition, a joint framework of collaboration between WAHO and WAEMU has been agreed upon.
Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA)
Project : TAH programme
Description : This is phase I of the continental connectivity programme that focuses on completion and standardisation of the TAH missing links by 2030
Project : Single African Sky phase 1 (design and initial implementation)
Description : Single African Sky is a continental programme that will create a high-level, satellite-based air navigation system for the African continent
Project : Yamoussoukro Decision implementation
Description : Accelerate Yamoussoukro Decision implementation by identifying countries that are ready to fully implement it, and discussing and agreeing with both their governments and airlines to launch the voluntary club on a full membership basis;
Project : ICT Enabling Environment
Description : This programme would improve the environment for the private sectors to invest in high-speed broadband infrastructure
Project : ICT Terrestrial for Connectivity
Description : This programme has two main components : secure each country connection by at least two broadband infrastructure and ensure the access to submarine cable to all landlocked countries
Project : Internet Exchange Point (IXP) programme
Description : The aim of this programme is to provide Africa with adequate internet node exchange to maximise internal traffic
Project : Nigeria–Algeria Gas Pipeline (DFS)
Description : 4,100 km gas pipeline from Warri to Hassi R’Mel in Algeria
Project : Dakar-Niamey Multimodal Corridor
Description : This programme is designed to modernise the most heavily travelled ARTIN corridor in West Africa (trade facilitation, OSBPs, capacity enhancement and implementation of PPP)
Project : FOMI
Description : Hydropower station in Guinea with irrigation water supply for Mali and regulation of the Niger river (nine countries)
Project : Lullemeden Aquifer System
Description : Prefeasibility studies for improved use of the aquifer system
Countries : Lullemeden and Taoudeni/Tanezrouft Aquifer System
African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100)
African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE)
Gender
Results:
•12 429 trained as peer educators for HIV/AIDS awareness
•359 291 women capacitated through CSO and grassroots organizations including 92 Local authorities and state government in the six geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Namibia 13 Council has implemented Action Plan for Gender Aware Service Delivery and 384 Parliamentarian in the region of Tigray, Amhara and Somalia facilitated research support from 250 graduated students for Gender Aware Parliamentarian Oversight.
•74 435 women empowered economic and financial terms: Income generation skills; Deployment of technical assistance to boost agriculture production for both consumption and commercial purposes; Accessing agricultural extension services; Promotion of gender inclusiveness in decision making; Creation of enabling environment to access land; Land tenure and legalization of land title for women; Youth job creation; SME management; Informal and Regional Trade development.
•25 438 women support through institutional based capacity building.
Results:
•12 429 trained as peer educators for HIV/AIDS awareness
•359 291 women capacitated through CSO and grassroots organizations including 92 Local authorities and state government in the six geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Namibia 13 Council has implemented Action Plan for Gender Aware Service Delivery and 384 Parliamentarian in the region of Tigray, Amhara and Somalia facilitated research support from 250 graduated students for Gender Aware Parliamentarian Oversight.
•74 435 women empowered economic and financial terms: Income generation skills; Deployment of technical assistance to boost agriculture production for both consumption and commercial purposes; Accessing agricultural extension services; Promotion of gender inclusiveness in decision making; Creation of enabling environment to access land; Land tenure and legalization of land title for women; Youth job creation; SME management; Informal and Regional Trade development.
Gender Climate Change Agriculture Support
Resulting from an innovative process of consultations involving women smallholder farmers on the ground and various stakeholders (a participatory and multi stakeholder approach), desk reviews and country case studies, the Gender Climate Change and Agriculture Support Programme intends to benefit 36,000 women farmers in the Niger. To achieve implementation at the ground level, GCCASP will provide implementation support in the areas of closing policy and institutional gaps, building the capacities of women smallholder farmers, the creation and strengthening of women platforms and investing in up-scaling of successful and innovative practices.
Climate Change Fund
Alignment of the national Action Program to combat desertification , Biodiversity Action Plans, and National Adaption Plans to enhance coherence
Country-level results :
• National strategy on alignment for the implementation of the three Rio conventions in Niger developed
• Strategic document on alignment and coherence of the three conventions developed and published
Regional results :
• Awareness created on the effect of climate change and the need to embark on sustainable activities in the fisheries sector in the region of Tillabery; with 388 people reached among who are 138 fishermen, 50 women fish traders and processors, as well as 26 government officials and 174 community members from Tillabery region.
• The Technical capacity of 7 staff members of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MESD) in the three departments have been strengthened.
• 50 Women were trained on how to process aquatic weeds and residues for composting and compost making, covering 1 hectare of land, development of 6 compost pits and production of 4 tons of compost
• The activity of women in the fish industry improved and strengthened by the use of freezers and solar drying equipment, with the allocation of 10 freezers, 2 solar powers dryers, and formation of 3 women groups; of which 150 women are direct beneficiaries of these facilities.
District Level -Loga District, Region of Dosso :
• 250Hectares of degraded land recovered through deforestation (planting of Acacia Senegal trees)
• 21 permanent jobs created for the youths on afforestation approaches
African Science Technology and Innovation Indicators (ASTII)
Project effectiveness in Niger commenced in September 2007. The first R&D and Innovation surveys were carried out in 2014 with data on core indicators collected to feature in the 3rd African Innovation Outlook report.
A training on international survey methodologies (OECD) was conducted in April 2015 drawing 40 participants, 9 of whom were female.
The country received a grant from SIDA of USD20,000 for strengthening data collection and processing in R&D related activities. Furthermore, the National Focal Centre was strengthened to promote effective survey methodologies.
Contact: Prof. Almou Mamane (almou_ens@yahoo.fr), Directeur Général de la Recherche et de l’Innovation, Mr. AMADOU Illya (illya.amadou@gmail.com).
Capacity Development
Results (2013 – 2015)
Advocacy and Strengthening of Negotiation Capacities on Post-2015 Development Agenda through the Common African Position (CAP):
• The multi-stakeholder framework of engagement specifically enhanced dialogue towards ensuring the required mass to influence the Post-2015 Global Agenda and Development Goals relevant to the Continent;
• This intervention helped strengthen country and regional level negotiating capacities for the effective incorporation and articulation of Africa’s priorities as enshrined in CAP in the final Global SDGs;
• The project enabled the participation of African stakeholders at the Means of Implementation Engagement, 3rd Financing for Development Conference and the UN General Assembly that adopted the new SDGs. This ensured the incorporation of Africa’s development priorities into the new goals through developing essential negotiation capacities;
• Through the CAP/SDGs space on the Africa Platform for Development Effectiveness (APDev), knowledge products and negotiation documents, as well as, policy briefs where successfully disseminated to the African negotiators in New York and kept the continent’s stakeholders informed of the overall process;
• Development and dissemination of post-2015 Policy Briefs on “Financing and Partnerships” and “Structural Economic Transformation and Inclusive Growth”. These are priorities outlined in the CAP and the policy briefs where utilized in the negotiation process for the African continent.
Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC):
• Africa secured the hosting of the 2nd High Level Meeting (HLM) of the Global Partnership. This was attained through robust negotiation and facilitating a common voice from Africa with regards to this critical engagement by the NEPAD Agency. The 2nd HLM will be held in Nairobi Kenya;
• The NEPAD Agency advocated for the full inclusion and participation of Africa’s Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in conducting the 2nd GP Monitoring Exercise. This was a fundamental achievement considering the RECs are the continent’s building blocks with regards to socio-economic transformation;
• The Africa Action Plan on Development Effectiveness (AAP) was granted the status of an official Global Partnership Initiative (GPI) at the Planning Meeting in Brussels. The AAP was developed by the NEPAD Agency in consultation with African multi stakeholders. This has enabled the Agency to successfully mobilize resources towards the implementation of the AAP.
Africa Power Vision
Project : Solar – Desertec Sahara Solar Project
Countries/Region : Algeria, Niger, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Chad | Northern Africa
Project Location : North-Western Sahara
Sector/Subsector : Energy/Generation and Transmission
Project Description : The Desertec organisations promote the generation of electricity in North Africa, the Middle East and Europe using renewable sources, such as solar power plants and wind parks. In addition, they are developing a Euro-Mediterranean electricity network, primarily made up of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission cables.
Project : Gas Pipeline – Nigeria-Algeria Gas Pipeline Project
Countries/Region : Nigeria, Niger and Algeria | West and North Africa regions
Project Location : 4,400 km pipeline from Qua Ibom Terminal (Calabar, Nigeria), through Niger to Hassi
R’Mel (Algeria)
Sector/Subsector : Energy/Transmission of Gas
Project Description : Construction of a natural gas pipeline designed to connect with the existing Trans-Mediterranean, Maghreb-Europe, Medgaz, and Galsi pipelines across the Mediterranean sea.
Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative (PICI)
Project : Missing Links on the Trans-Sahara Highway
Description : Construction of 225 km of road between Assamakka and Arlit, Niger
Estimated total cost : USD102 million
Description : The use of political gravitas and goodwill to unblock and facilitate political bottlenecks affecting the implementation of ICT broadband and optic fibre projects on the continent
Africa UN Food Systems Summit Knowledge Hub
TerrAfrica
- In 2009, with support of TerrAfrica, Niger made the full SLM diagnostic studies including ecosystems, technical, political, institutional and financial aspects. These studies allowed the identification of the main bottlenecks and gaps to raise the challenges of SLM through the definition and the implementation of a country strategic investments framework for SLM in Niger.
- The overall objective of the CSIF-SLM under adoption was a sustainable decline of land degradation in Niger and thus to fight against poverty through the establishment of a national strategic framework to prioritize, plan and guide the implementation of current and future investments in SLM by both public and private sector and all stakeholders from local to national (or regional) levels.
- As a result of the development of a CSIF, Niger was able to align stakeholders and resources towards the implementation of the Community Action Program for Land and Water. This project builds on the Community Action Program and associated climate resilience and integrated ecosystem management projects. Out of the USD90 million total financing, USD 35 million is direct financing.
- Through Sahel and West Africa Program (SAWAP), funding was provided to Niger ($44.52M) to strengthen local governance capacities in urban and rural communities, including the capacity to respond promptly to natural disasters, and to promote sustainable land and natural resources management throughout the country.
Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL)
At the beginning of 2014, 37 of the 42 opted-in African countries have completed a rapid assessment / gap analysis. The next step for countries is to develop a SE4LL Action Agenda and Investment Prospectus(es). To support this process, the SE4ALL Africa Hub partners have led the development of Africa Guidelines for SE4ALL national Action Agendas. The Africa Guidelines lay out principles and process for developing Action Agendas and put forward a balanced approach of centralized and decentralized solutions to achieve universal access to energy services.
Progress in Niger:
SE4All Action Agenda and SE4All Investment Plan are under development "
Description : 4,100 km gas pipeline from Warri to Hassi R’Mel in Algeria
Agriculture and Food Insecurity Risk Management (AFIRM)
A complementary study (to the World Bank Study) on Agriculture and Food Insecurity Risk Management was conducted in order to fill the identified gaps, including market and financial risks faced by smallholder farmers. The next steps will include developing specific instruments and project measures for increasing access to financial instruments such as insurance associated with credit, productive safety nets, improved access to markets and storage facilities and improved producer remuneration through market reform and strengthening of cooperatives and producers’ associations.