Niger & The Sahel
15th September 2009 - Irish Red Cross is concerned about extensive flooding across West and Central Africa
Niger is located within the Sahelian zone of the West African sub-region. This area is recognized 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. The Irish Red Cross is supporting the school by constructing an additional classroom as well as providing much needed desks, chairs and classroom supplies.
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.
Irish Red Cross Projects since 2005
The Irish Red Cross is working with the Nigerien Red Cross and our international Red Cross and Red Crescent partner organizations through the global network of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. This network consists of a total of 183 national Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations from 183 different countries, counting approximately 100 million voluntary members worldwide.
2005: Emergency Food Crisis
On July 2005 the International Federation 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. In Niger, the focus of Phase 1 emergency activities (covering the period for July 18th 2005 – December 31st 2005) was threefold:
- Financial Assistance: In response to the Federations International Niger Appeal released on July 18th 2005 the Irish RC forwarded €100,000 into the Federation's Emergency Fund. This funding came from Irish RC private resources.
- General Food distribution: A further €250,000 was contributed in the Emergency phase towards the lease and transport of vehicles for the distribution of food to 130,308 beneficiary / 23,673 families. 1,935 MT of food commodities was distributed. This distribution included beneficiaries from the region of Agadez (Irish RC's operational area at the time) and targeted some 11,277 families with 960Mt of food commodities. Again this funding came from Irish RC private resources.
- Human Resources: Coordination and cooperation as part of logistics, human resources and programme support was established early on between the Federation and The Irish Red Cross with the deployment of an Irish RC Senior Relief and Livelihood delegate responsible for the IFRC Sahel operation at the end of August 2005. The delegate worked closely with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent in the region of Agadez. €40,000 was provided for the funding of three local/regional staffs in the areas of health, relief and disaster preparedness. Funding was from Irish RC privates resources.
2006 – 2008: Post emergency programmes in Agadez Region
Members of the Niger Red Cross Tanout Sub Branch watch how a 'demonstration' cost efficient energy saving stove is produced using simple and locally available materials. The Irish Red Cross is working in partnership with the Niger Red Cross Tanout sub branch on a range of capacity building and livelihood activities.
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 Irish Aid and the Irish public, focused in the Agadez Region (Northern part of Niger) on post-emergency programmes on three key areas:
- The Small Grants Programme focused on the promotion of improved livelihood opportunities for food insecure communities in the region of Agadez by reinforcing communities abilities to share information through a needs based approach, increasing Niger Red Cross's capacity to respond with effective tools, technical expertise and leadership. 8,933 beneficiaries (1,319 families) benefited from targeted small grants. Depending on individual family needs, beneficiaries received camels, donkeys, goats, cereals, palm leaves or small cash grants. These activities were funded by a grant from Irish Aid.
- The Capacity Building Programmes reinforced the capacity of the Agadez branch of Niger Red Cross and its sub branches in Bilma and Tabelot through the provision of funding for local technical staff, customized training for both volunteers and management and procurement of essential office support equipment. These activities were funded by a grant from Irish Aid.
- Emergency Response with a major response in August 2006 when several remote villages were affected by floods. In total, over 7,000 flood affected people received assistance from the Irish Red Cross to include food packs of sugar, millet, beans, salt and oil.
These programmes were implemented up to 30th June 2008. The deterioration of the security situation in Agadez since May 2007 and the state of war has prevented the Irish RC from accessing the areas outside the narrow limits of Agadez city. Due to this lack of access and no medium term prospects for an improvement, Irish RC ended its activities in Agadez in June 2008. Prior to its departure from Agadez the Irish RC was working in close cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC takes the lead on behalf of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement in countries and regions affected by conflict and as such coordinates the activities of national societies such as the Irish RC.
2008 – 2010: New Programmes in Zinder Region
Women in northern Niger attend a meeting with Irish Red Cross and Niger Red Cross staff to discuss project activities in their community.
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. Funding for this was provided by the British Red Cross.
Zinder region is located in the centre of Niger. It covers some 11.53% of the national landmass. Zinder city is approximately 900km from the Nigerien capital, Niamey. The region suffers from similar agro-climatic problems to other regions of Niger – desertification, deforestation, limited and unreliable rains. Zinder has a mainly rural population and the economy of the region is predominantly agricultural based (largely subsistence). This region has high levels of poverty. Some 70.1% of the population live below the national poverty level and the incidence of extreme poverty in the region is 39%. In terms of the contribution of the region to national poverty, Zinder contributes the highest proportion of all the regions – some 22%.
In August 2008, the Irish Red Cross renewed a Memorandum of Understanding and partnership with the Niger Red Cross in order to implement Livelihood Programmes and Capacity Building programmes in the region of Zinder. These programmes are funded by the Irish Red Cross, the British Red Cross, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Irish Aid.
This two years programme includes two main components:
- Capacity Building by supporting and strengthening the capacity of the Niger Red Cross Society to identify and assess the needs of vulnerable people and to implement effective programmes and partnerships to meet those needs (provision of infrastructure and materials, training of Red Cross volunteers, support to income generating activities for the Niger Red Cross).
- Livelihood Programme: by reducing the vulnerability of the population to food insecurity, natural resource degradation and disasters the coping mechanisms of the population can be greatly strengthened.
The Irish Red Cross delegation comprises five delegates and approximately 30 local employees (as of December 2008).
Help us by supporting our work in Niger.
Make a secure online donation by credit or debit card
Give over the phone by ringing 1850 50 70 70
Send a cheque made payable to Irish Red Cross Niger Appeal to:
Irish Red Cross Niger Appeal,
6 Merrion Square,
Dublin 2
