Multi-Year Assistance Program

This Multi-Year Assistance Program, funded by USAID, strengthens resiliency against food insecurity in vulnerable populations in the far eastern, remote regions of Niger - Zinder and Diffa. Local communities suffer from seasonal and chronic food insecurity due to low production on small family farms, limited non-farm income opportunities and harsh and erratic environmental conditions. Counterpart International's interventions focus on prevention, detection and treatment of child malnutrition, and on interventions that protect wetlands and other natural resources in the area.

Recent Highlights:

• Counterpart is building the capacity of local communities to manage 200 new and existing cereal banks. Cereal banks are vital to Nigeriens' survival during the lean season — the annual period between May and September — where food stocks are at their lowest. In months when families would barely survive, they now have a ready source of food, thereby avoiding widespread food crises and reducing malnutrition in children. 
• Remote communities receive health and nutrition services through monthly mobile visits from a group made up of 90 health extension workers. Household caretakers are trained on proper health and nutrition practices and staff at 5 integrated health centers are being trained to detect and treat malnutrition. At the same time, awareness and understanding is raised among some 950 caretakers, health workers and others on health, hygiene and nutrition. Beneficiaries of these efforts include 6,400 children (all under 5) and 6,700 mothers, 20 percent of whom are pregnant or lactating. In addition, more than 9,000 children are being treated for moderate malnutrition, 725 children are being treated for severe malnutrition, and medicines are being distributed to nearly 14,000 children.
• To preserve the wetlands, farmers are introduced to new varieties of fruits and vegetables; new planting and harvesting methods; crop protection; post-harvest handling and storage. Irrigation equipment and technology is being provided, with plans to build 160 bore holes and 40 irrigation systems. The preservation of these wetlands will help maintain the nation's agricultural-based economy. Today, Counterpart is helping communities cultivate 52 hectares of land in 13 fertile farming areas and it is stabilizing 74 hectares of sand-dune to stabilize the soil, which includes the distribution of nearly 1,800 fruit trees. In addition, some 13 agricultural input stores for farmers' groups are being established; vulnerable women have received 450 goats; and flour mills have been provided to 5 women's groups.

Photo: © Counterpart International.