Niger
Resilience approaches can help address poverty, climate change, and instability in Niger.
Overview
Recurring shocks from poverty and climate change have been exacerbated by conflict. Deteriorating security has caused a sharp escalation in humanitarian needs, putting more families at risk of food insecurity and acute malnutrition. In recent years, the Government of Niger has taken a proactive leadership approach to building resilience.
Complex Risk Environment
Insecurity and attacks by armed groups are leading to internal displacement across the Lake Chad Basin and other parts of Niger, complicating service delivery and humanitarian relief efforts. As crops and infrastructure are destroyed, rural populations dependent on subsistence agriculture become increasingly at risk for acute malnutrition and food insecurity. Other vulnerabilities, including disease outbreaks, flooding, and drought are unlikely to abate.
Resilience Approach
In 2012, the Government of Niger established a High Commission called Nigeriens Feeding Nigeriens (3N), to coordinate all development programming in food security and nutrition. 3N prioritizes improvements in water access, agricultural production, and resilience. International donors contribute to building resilience through improvements to agriculture, health, and governance. Investing in resilience also supports efforts to counter violent extremism. Resilience investments respond to common grievances, such as lack of government services and poor economic opportunities, and address common drivers of instability, such as local conflicts and shock-related population displacements.
Opportunities for Strengthening Resilience
There are many opportunities to strengthen resilience from the local to national levels, including: improving access to and management of water and other natural resources; promoting business development and opportunities to engage in growing markets; improving health outcomes; strengthening community and national health systems; strengthening effective governance at all levels; and empowering women and youth to be a force for positive change. An additional new and important focus will be on maintaining improving security and accountability.
Featured Resources
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The USAID Center for Resilience commissioned the Overseas Development Institute, in...
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Gender inequality can undermine efforts to enhance resilience capacity. In this study we explored both gender inequality in Hausa communities in...
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The purpose of this study is to explain the role of key variables in determining the current level of resilience of the population in Niger...
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This report documents the resilience analysis of the midline data set collected for the impact evaluation (IE) of the Resilience in the Sahel Enhanced (RISE) initiative.
Evidence and AnalysisBurkina FasoNiger -
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This series of cases explores central questions for practitioners interested in conducting a risk and resilience assessment. Each case explores various contexts where Mercy Corps conducted a risk and resilience assessment, the Strategic Resilience Assessment (STRESS), in Niger, Nepal and...
Evidence and AnalysisNigerNepalUganda -
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This evaluation explores how different productive inclusion programs impact the wellbeing and economic stability of safety net beneficiaries in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal.
Shock Responsive ProgramsSocial ProtectionNigerBurkina FasoSenegal -
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Health intersects with resilience and sustained poverty escapes in at least three ways. Poor health reduces well-being and can be a shock or stressor at the individual, household, community or systems level. It can also act as an important form of human capital, a resilience capacity that...
Sustainable Poverty EscapesHealthTanzaniaNigerMalawiEthiopiaUgandaKenyaPhilippinesNepalCambodiaBangladesh -
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Gender inequality can undermine efforts to enhance resilience capacity. In this study we explored both gender inequality in Hausa communities in southern Niger and the meaning of women’s empowerment in this context.
Gender EqualityNiger -
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The RISE portfolio aims to strengthen resiliency in communities and governments in selected, somewhat adjoining areas of Burkina Faso and Niger.
Shock Responsive ProgramsNigerBurkina Faso -
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The Livelihoods Diversification Analysis (LDA) has two key functions: (1) to inform ongoing and future iterations of resilience programming in Niger, Burkina Faso, and potentially other Sahelian countries, and (2) to contribute more broadly to strategic thinking on holistic programming that...
Diversify Livelihood RisksNigerBurkina Faso -
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This report presents the findings of a Livelihoods Diversification Analysis that aims to inform the development of future programmatic interventions and strategic efforts to promote livelihood diversification in the Sahel by the USAID Sahel Regional Office at USAID/Senegal.
Diversify Livelihood RisksNigerBurkina Faso -
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This working paper is meant to provide information on the strategic and technical approach USAID intends to use for RISE II.
NigerBurkina Faso -
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USAID’s Resilience in the Sahel Enhanced 2 (RISE 2) results framework indicates the results required to achieve the project goal of chronically vulnerable populations in Burkina Faso and Niger, supported by resilient systems, effectively manage shocks and stresses and...
NigerBurkina Faso