Germany and WFP expand their multi-year partnership to empower resilient communities in Niger

Niger continues to face chronic vulnerabilities caused mainly by poverty, regional insecurity, demographic pressure, economic and climatic shocks, chronic food insecurity, and persistent gender inequalities. About 6.8 million people, representing one third of Niger’s population, are recurrently food insecure and struggle to nourish themselves and their families.

“Germany’s support is a demonstration of a long-term engagement to improve livelihoods and improve people’s food insecurity and nutrition in Niger, and to invest in equipping communities with the right set of means to be able to withstand shocks”, said Sory Ouane, WFP Country Director and Representative in Niger.

 “The COVID-19 pandemic adds to the nutritional vulnerability of Niger’s population. It is with this important contribution that Germany supports the efforts to protect the population from additional food insecurity in these challenging times.” said Hermann Nicolai, German Ambassador in Niger. “Germany is making its contribution to this struggle as part of the European response “Team Europe” to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Since 2018, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and WFP have worked to scale-up resilience activities in areas prone to recurrent climate and other shocks in the Sahel. With the generous support of BMZ, over 650,000 people have been supported in more than 360 villages in Niger alone, focusing on three priority regions of Maradi, Zinder and Tahoua. Greening degraded lands, supporting education (via school meals) and nutritional assistance to women, men, youth and children are key elements of this integrated approach.

The additional contribution from Germany will allow WFP to sustain assistance to these vulnerable communities, further investing in their education and health, strengthening their livelihoods and asset base. It will also enable and expand capacity strengthening for personnel of national technical services to promote inclusive, accountable and efficient services to communities across the country.

Germany has provided € 80.5 million (including this additional contribution) to WFP efforts to scale-up resilience operations in Niger since 2018. WFP has pursued a community-centered and integrated approach for resilience that relies on strong collaboration between partners and the Government of Niger’s “Pro Resilience” programme since 2014.

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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