Niger
In Niger, HI runs various projects for the inclusion of children and adults with disabilities and in support of populations affected by climate-related disasters and armed conflicts.
Malika, ten years old, lives in Maradi, Niger. She has a visual disability: thanks to the support of HI, she is now in second grade. | © J. Labeur / HI
Our actions
Humanity & Inclusion supports people with disabilities and other populations experiencing extreme hardship in Niger, helping the country's various humanitarian actors to adopt an inclusive response. To ensure that the specific needs of people with disabilities are taken into account, our program conducts studies on existing barriers, raises awareness among associations and communities and strengthens the inclusive dimension of other humanitarian actors' interventions. The teams provide support for inclusion at a central level, in various clusters and working groups.
HI is also implementing a project to strengthen the resilience and social cohesion of populations in cross-border regions by supporting community-run projects. Our teams organize the distribution of kits and shelters to cover the basic needs of impacted populations and assist local actors in addressing mental health and psychosocial support needs. They also organize risk education sessions and training within the communities.
Given the risks of malnutrition caused by natural disasters or armed conflicts, the program supports the families of children suffering from acute malnutrition. To this end, our teams organize discussion groups and offer stimulation therapy sessions to help young children grow and develop.
Lastly, although Niger is the country with the youngest population in the world, the school enrollment rate remains very low, especially among children with disabilities. Through our inclusive education project, HI helps children with disabilities to access and remain in primary education. This involves strengthening the capacities and training of teachers, working to identify and follow-up children with disabilities and raising community awareness of disability issues.
Areas of intervention
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a life
Background
Niger is a Sahelian country experiencing rapid growth, but a large part of its population lives in poverty. Education is an absolute priority, as half of the population is currently under the age of 15.
Niger, which has a surface area of 490,000 square miles, has three climate zones: the north is dry and arid; the center is a Sahelian zone with average rainfall; and the south has high rainfall. As a result, the country is prone to droughts and floods. Niger’s economy is largely based on agriculture and livestock and both of these activities are at risk of climate-related disasters.
Despite some improvement over the last few decades, the social situation is still marked by extreme poverty. According to World Bank statistics, the level of extreme poverty in Niger was almost 41.8% in 2023, affecting more than 10 million people.
Niger has played a role in resolving a number of crises in the region and beyond, and for several years now has been experiencing successive and significant waves of population displacements and arrivals of refugees. However, as the country borders Mali, Chad and Nigeria, it experiences security tensions from its neighbors and the incursions of armed groups into its territory. The security situation has deteriorated sharply and continuously since 2019, with an intensification of attacks by armed groups, not only against the defense and security forces but also against civilians.
People with disabilities face significant discrimination and socio-economic inequalities in Niger. According to popular perceptions and representations, disability is generally assimilated to incapacity and deficiency. The negative perceptions and attitudes perpetuated by families and communities remain the biggest obstacle to the successful social inclusion of people with disabilities.
Number of HI staff: 103
Program opened in: 2006
