Niger & The Sahel
Niger is located within the Sahelian zone of the West African sub-region. This area is recognised as one of the most fragile and vulnerable environments in the world. This status results from a complex mix of factors including poor soils, erratic rainfall, on-going deforestation and desertification as well as population pressure. Some three quarters of the landmass of Niger is desert. Over the past decades, the sub-region has suffered from frequent episodes of food insecurity sometimes leading to severe food crises such as the one affecting countries across the Sahel (Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso) in 2005.
Niger is characterised by high levels of poverty and a low state of development. It is ranked 174 out of 177 countries in 2007/2008 Human Development Index Ranking of the “United Nations Development Programme” (Ireland is ranked at the 5th place). Niger has a population of 13.3 million in 2005 and projected to reach 18.8 million by 2015. Birth rates are high in Niger with fertility rates of 7.4 children per woman. Life expectancy is only 55.8 years (Ireland: 78.4 years) and infant mortality rates of 150 per 1000 live births and under 5 mortality rates of 256 per 1000 live births (6 per 1000 in Ireland).
Young girls at the Zinder Region Niger Red Cross primary school.
Some 48% of the population is under the age of 15 and only 3.1% of the population aged 65 or above. Niger is one of the largest producers of uranium in the world as well as having other natural resources including, gold and oil. The majority of the population, however, are engaged in subsistence agriculture or some type of informal economic activity such as petty trade. Some 90% of the population is engaged in agro-pastoralism. The principal crops are cereals (predominantly millet and sorghum) accounting for 85% of agricultural production.
The Irish Red Cross delegation comprises five delegates and approximately 25 local employees (as of May 2010).
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Irish Red Cross Niger Appeal,
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Dublin 2
Cash for Work Programme
7 May 2010
Cash for work activities
The Irish Red Cross is pleased to announce that with the support of the British Red Cross it is implementing an emergency Cash for Work programme in response to the deteriorating food insecurity situation in the Tanout region of Zinder in Niger. This programme will provide communities with cash to allow the purchase of food and necessary household goods while at the same time implementing much needed environmental and agricultural projects.
Niger facing severe food crisis
16 March 2010
The Irish Red Cross is increasingly concerned at the deteriorating food security situation in Niger. Irregular rains starting late and stopping early in Niger has led to a 31% slump in crop production compared to last year - 410,000 tons less - according to the government's latest estimates. Failure to respond by the international community will lead to a huge humanitarian crisis.
Extensive flooding across West and Central Africa
15 September 2009
Since the start of the rainy season, the following 16 countries have experienced significant flooding: Liberia, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gambia, Gabon, Chad, Togo, Mali, Central African Republic, Ghana, Benin, Mauritania, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Senegal. Initial estimates indicate that more than 450,000 people have been affected; thousands of families have been uprooted from their homes and material losses are considerable.
2008 - 2010: New Programmes in Zinder Region
Early in 2008 the Irish Red Cross began a research and assessment phase into the livelihoods and the socio-economic conditions of communities in the Zinder region, with a view to launching a medium to longer term livelihoods and capacity building program. The resulting programmes were funded by the Irish Red Cross, the British Red Cross, the International Federation of the Red Cross Red Crescent and Irish Aid.
2006 – 2008: Post emergency programmes in Agadez Region
Concerns regarding the longer-term impact of the 2004-2005 food crises remained, given that the livelihoods of many, most especially in Niger, were eroded by the crisis. In response to this crisis, the Irish Red Cross, with funding from both Irish Aid and the Irish public, focused in the Agadez Region (Northern part of Niger) on post-emergency programmes like Capacity Building, Small Grants and Emergency response.
2005: Emergency Food Crisis
On July 2005 the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent launched an emergency appeal for Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Mauritania. The Red Cross Movement's response to the food crisis in the Sahel focused primarily on Niger, with on-going assistance in the form of human resources and funding being provided to food distribution operations in Mali and Burkina Faso.