Feed the Future has worked in Niger since 2013.
Number of people living in Niger (World Bank, 2019)
Percentage of population living in rural Niger (World Bank, 2018)
Percentage of stunted children under the age of 5 (World Bank, 2018)
Percentage of people living in poverty in Niger (World Bank, 2014)
Producers using new technologies and practices with Feed the Future’s help in FY20
Hectares tended with improved technologies or management practices with Feed the Future’s help in FY20
Children under 5 reached with nutrition help in FY20
Broad-based development in Niger has been hampered by rapid population growth (almost 70% of the population is under the age of 25), poor infrastructure, extremely low education levels and recurring exposure to multiple concurrent shocks, such as conflict, droughts and floods.
This high-risk environment hinders investment by foreign governments and the private sector, further limiting the ability of the country and its people to grow economically and effectively mitigate, adapt to and recover from shocks and stresses.
To help Niger improve its food security and strengthen resilience, Feed the Future invests in efforts to help families increase their access to water and other natural resources, develop businesses, engage in growing markets and improve their health and nutrition. Feed the Future integrates agriculture and nutrition investments to enhance cognitive and physical development, increase economic productivity, strengthen resilience and advance global development. For more information, please view the Nutrition Priority Countries.
In Niger, Feed the Future invests in sustainable water security, livestock, climate-resilient agricultural production, new infrastructure, market access and natural resource management. The initiative also unlocks access to finance for local entrepreneurs and small business groups and trains Nigerien farmers to help them grow commercially viable commodities like cowpeas, poultry, sheep and goats.
As of 2020, USAID has increased the adaptive capacity of farmers by way of diversified economic opportunities beyond rain-fed agriculture through small-scale irrigation, home gardens, increased livestock production, improved access to finance and the creation of social enterprises linked to project activities (e.g. community-based solution providers). In 2020, USAID enabled nearly 111,500 producers to better adapt to the impacts of climate change by using improved management and technologies. More than 82,000 hectares have been put under improved management practices or technologies that promote improved climate risk reduction, and more than 2.3 million hectares were put under improved natural resources management in 2020.
Feed the Future established or revitalized livestock market management committees in 15 markets, where all 15 successfully incorporated as businesses, allowing them to raise organizational revenues to support market management. Feed the Future continues to inform and sensitize producers and local authorities on deworming and vaccinating flocks, and reached more than 4,200 producers in 2020. As a result, revenues for farmers groups and commune taxes increased, making it possible for local authorities to invest in additional infrastructure and services.
The Resilience in the Sahel Enhanced (RISE) program, Feed the Future’s primary investment in Niger, helps communities strengthen resilience to recurrent crises by creating better access to water and other natural resources, promoting business development and opportunities to engage in growing markets, improving health outcomes, strengthening effective governance at all levels and empowering women and youth to be a force for positive change in their communities.
A 2018 analysis of the program showed that RISE contributed significantly to positive results, with a 24.6 percent rate of return and evidence that the program has successfully helped families escape poverty and strengthen their resilience. The expected economic benefit to the nation’s economy is projected to be $19 million by 2024. Additional evidence has shown that these families were better able to maintain or improve their food security despite being exposed to more shocks and stresses such as drought, flooding, conflict and food price spikes.
The results shown reflect data from a combination of USAID Mission Activity Reports, the RISE Impact Evaluation and information from the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. African Development Foundation, reported into Feed the Future’s central monitoring system for fiscal year 2020 (FY20). All dollar amounts are listed in U.S. dollars.
Feed the Future supports the following programs, partnerships, and organizations in Niger:
November 29, 2018
“The yields were so impressive that people throughout the commune considered it worthwhile to collaborate with the project. Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Enhanced Resilience has changed the lives of people in our community and is now increasing its impact.”
Harounda Dan Fadji, Mayor of Sabon Machi
