Food assistance and strengthening resilience in Tillaberi Niger

projekt beendet

ContextNiger is at the bottom of the United Nations Development Programme’s 2013 Human Development Index (HDI). Over 50 per cent of the population live in extreme poverty. Despite a predominantly agriculture-based economic structure, food security in the country remains fragile. Three quarters of those working in agriculture are still wholly dependent on subsistence farming. Traditional techniques make it difficult for them to secure their own food needs in the face of tough and changing climactic conditions.Households are highly vulnerable even to slight changes in the climate. Increasingly chronic water shortages, ongoing desertification and soil erosion hamper agricultural activities. Niger is therefore permanently dependent on food imports from abroad. This supply situation constantly leads to serious crises, particularly when combined with extreme weather events such as droughts and flooding. The health of the population is poor due to chronic and recurring acute undernourishment for extended periods. At 81 per thousand live births, the infant mortality rate is very high.In terms of both the percentage and absolute number of people who are suffering, Tillabéri is one of the regions in Niger in which food insecurity and child malnutrition are most prevalent. Women and small children are particularly badly affected. Due to a lack of food, women are exposed to high risks during pregnancy and childbirth and while breastfeeding. Early childhood undernourishment, especially in the first two years of a child’s life, usually leads to irreparable impairment of mental and physical development and a higher mortality rate.ObjectiveVulnerable households in the project region have better access to food, eat a more balanced diet and are more resilient to food crises.ApproachWithin state structures, GIZ is supporting the Niger Ministry of Health’s work in the Tillabéri region, where it is introducing measures to prevent undernourishment and treating undernourished individuals.The project’s approach is distinctive in that, on the one hand, it works closely with communities and target groups both to identify the precise problems facing the target groups and to tailor its support to the needs of villages and households. On the other hand, the project works with several different sectors so that it can not only improve access to food, but also – depending on the needs of the target groups – promote a more balanced diet and the treatment of severe undernourishment via use of supplementary foodstuffs containing concentrated micronutrients. These services are offered in conjunction with structure enhancing-measures and relevant training courses with the aim of ensuring that greater emphasis is placed on food issues in municipal planning processes. Families, municipalities and state health services are encouraged to resolve problems and carry out activities that will improve the food situation and strengthen their ability to withstand future disasters (resilience). The project is also strengthening these groups by implementing measures that support knowledge transfer, organisational improvements and new cooperative arrangements and networks.ResultsThe project has supported various income-generating measures among 29 different women’s groups comprising 870 members. Women can use the additional income they earn, for example by selling soap or goat’s milk, to purchase food for small children. 20,729 pregnant women and mothers have been given advice on nutrition, which has enabled them to prepare appropriate food and reduce the level of undernourishment among small children in villages.Food security has become a key component of development and investment plans at village level, enabling local citizens to play an active role in implementing food security measures and strengthening their resilience.In 2012, the municipal development plans (plans de développment communal) of the 11 municipalities included 186 measures to enhance food security (sécurité alimentaire et nutrition); 378 measures are planned for 2015. The annual investment plans (plans d’investissement annuel) include a total of 321 food security measures that are to be carried out in 2015.

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