Niger

Niger, like many of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, faces the problems of rapid population growth, sluggish modern sector growth, variable agricultural performance, and environmental degradation. Its per capita income and development indicators are among the worst in the world and Niger’s high population growth and recurrent drought make the problems particularly severe.

In the rural areas of Niger, poverty exceeds that of urban areas where the average urban incomes are double rural incomes. According to poverty lines, 63 percent of the country’s population is poor, which includes 34 percent who are extremely poor. Because of the population weighting, rural areas contribute nearly 90 percent to Niger’s total poverty.

Because the nation is so dependent on external factors such as the international uranium market, rainfall, the economy of Nigeria, and donor financing, the country remains extremely vulnerable to an unsteady economy of its own. The majority of the population depends on agriculture as their primary mode of production therefore erratic and declining rainfall and periodic drought can be devastating to Niger’s people. Nearly all rural household heads are farmers or pastoralists, while a small percentage work as small traders, hawkers, craftsmen, builders or transport workers.

As Niger’s government continues its efforts to institute a program of sound macroeconomic policy, one crucial measure is to reorient public spending toward the effective delivery of basic social services, especially in rural areas. Policy responses have adversely affected the country because while the public wage bill was protected, recurrent expenditures in health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure were cut, undermining service delivery and exacerbating Niger’s inequality and poverty.

The current human rights situation in Niger is less than desirable, but organizations such as Amnesty International have taken actions to correct their concerns with the country. In 2005, the United Nations ranked Niger the lowest on the Human Development Report. Since then, it has been a difficult path for the nation due to a significant famine that resulted from many years of drought.

Additionally, Niger maintains a biased system of law and order as exemplified by the situation where more than 230 soldiers, arrested following a failed mutiny in 2002, remained in detention without trial. Also, hundreds of thousands of people continue to exist in conditions of slavery despite the adoption of a new Penal Code in 2003 making slavery a punishable crime.

Serious food shortages are compounded by the years of drought and an invasion of desert locusts which have wiped out much of the country's cereal production in the past. Although several non-governmental organizations had been warning about the risk of famine in Niger since late 2004, international donors were slow to react to Niger’s calls for urgent food aid. In June, 2006 thousands of people demonstrated in the capital, Niamey, to demand the distribution of free rations. And while their demand was refused by the authorities, by July, the international community began to send emergency food aid, bringing the nation up to its slightly improved situation.

The country also faces problems of detention without trial, a few instances of torture, and many attempts to restrict freedom of expression. For example, the government closed down a privately-owned radio station for “inciting rebellion.” This action was incited by two former Tuareg rebels who had criticized the government for not fulfilling its commitment under the peace agreements to reintegrate former rebels into society. The station was allowed to reopen two weeks later.

In Niger, infection of HIV/AIDS in low-risk groups, such as pregnant women, is rare. Although HIV surveillance information has been inconsistent and irregularly conducted, the results (which are unavailable after year 2000) suggest that only about 2% of the population lives with the infection. The infection rate is higher in other groups such as sex workers where more than one third test as HIV positive.

The HIV/AIDS infection rate in Niger is one of the lowest in Africa. But the epidemic is looming, and women are particularly affected. According to a UNICEF study, only one in four women in Niger knows how to protect herself against HIV/AIDS.

Radio is the newest tool for fighting HIV and AIDS in Niger. Town centers will hold talks where villagers can gather to learn about HIV and AIDS. The talks are recorded and then aired on national radio as part of a program to reach remote communities with life-saving health information. Women are receptive to this media base, and are learning to sensitize their husbands about the disease.

Additionally, almost a quarter of Nigeriens suffer from bilharzia, an infection spread by swimming or bathing in water contaminated with urine and feces. Some three million of Niger's 13.4 million people have been diagnosed as suffering from the parasitic skin infection. It causes rashes and flu-like symptoms, can create urinary problems and damage the bladder, liver, lungs, bowel and nervous system.

Parasitic diseases like this thrive in areas with poor water supply, sanitation and housing. And Niger, a vast and landlocked country on the southern fringe of the Sahara desert, has the lowest number of wells and toilets per capita in the world.

In Niger, the burning of brush and grass to prepare for crop cultivation has resulted in a serious depletion of vegetation. Soil erosion and increasing desertification have also occurred.

The nation has 3.5 cubic kilometers of renewable water resources. About 82% percent is used in farming activity and 2% for industrial activity. Safe drinking water is available to 70% of urban dwellers and 56% of the rural population. Only 79% of the nation's city dwellers have adequate waste disposal. Also, the country’s poaching and habitat destruction threatens the lives of wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion).

Niger’s greatest environment concern is related to its oil industry. The oil spills because of petroleum operations has slowly poisoned the country’s waters and harmed the nearby vegetation and agricultural land. But since the inception of the oil industry in Nigeria, there has been little effort on the part of the government, let alone the oil operators, to control environmental problems associated with the industry.

Niger’s situation in education is catastrophic since it is among one of the five countries in the world where primary enrollment is below 30 percent. Over 80% of the country’s population is illiterate, but Niger is addressing its literacy problems with a campaign to build 1,000 new classrooms each year. The level of education of the head of household shows a strong correlation with poverty. Not surprisingly, the incidence, depth, and severity of poverty are greater for less educated groups. Seventy percent of households whose head of household is illiterate are poor.

Although household survey data cannot be disaggregated within households to permit analysis by gender, other indicators suggest that women are disadvantaged in many ways and the burdens of poverty fall heavily upon them. Women are subject to the authority of men, are secluded and are confined by the predominant Muslim tradition. Female enrollment is a meager 21 percent and only 10 percent of women are literate compared with 26 percent of men.

Education in Niger is free, but only a small proportion of children attend school. Primary and secondary schools and teacher-training colleges are the responsibility of the Ministry of National Education. Other ministries are responsible for technical education.

With one of the lowest adult literacy rates in western Africa, the country sees the need to continue its literacy programs and development of higher education. The country’s capital, Niamey, has a university, and the Islamic University of Niger opened at Say in 1987.

ABGREMO - Akpabuyo Bakassi Green Movement - Works for the promotion of environmental and human rights protection in and around the coastal communities of the Niger River Delta, through information sharing, education and action programs. ABGREMO is a youth lead organization that also focuses on the conservation of mangrove ecosystem. The group’s vision is to create a society where rural communities are positively transformed and environment/social justice is upheld.

Campaign For Child Rights and Survival (contact [by phone]: + 234 87 77 0397) – CCRS’s mission is to promote the rights and development of children in rural and urban communities in Africa, with special focus on children in conflict and crisis communities. The organization plans to alleviate the suffering of these children and their families through advocacy, lobbying, policy reform and other direct actions.

Helping Hands Group – The group focuses on empowering, educating and mobilizing the people of the Niger delta to take ownership of their own development through efficient and sustainable use of their natural resources. Helping Hands Group also promotes the building of social capital that is vital for socio-economic development and advancement of the people of the Niger Delta through rights-based management of all their resources. Also, the organization wishes to encourage democratic and civil liberties within the region so that the people's resources can benefit all residents of the Niger Delta irrespective of age, gender, ethnic or religious beliefs.

Niger Delta Centre for Adolescents Development (contact [by phone]: + 234 8023255534) – This organization aims to contribute to the advancement of adolescent activities and social responsibility. The group helps adolescents to develop their leadership skills through their skills acquisition program and promotes sustainable development for adolescents in Niger delta region.

Niger Delta Development Monitoring and Corporate Watch - The mission of NIDDEMCOW is to generate change and empower the people in the Niger Delta and the society at large for practical and sustainable development. Its vision is to assist and contribute to the Niger Delta Region and the surrounding society to complement the services of organizations and Government to enable the down trodden people in the Niger Delta.

Niger Delta Professionals For Development - Nidprodev is a non-Governmental organization NGO operating since 1999, focusing on conflict mediation, peace building, youth empowerment, gender rights issues, democracy and Good Governance in the Niger Delta. The organization works to facilitate dialogue, strengthen co-existence and create a safe platform for difference and diversity amongst ethnic nationalities of the Niger-Delta region. In addition, Nidprodev aspires to strengthen capacities of youth, women and community-based organizations in dealing with intra and inter personal conflicts in their organizations and to create an enabling environment that promotes economic investment and developmental activities.

Niger Delta Women for Justice - NDWJ's vision is to facilitate the empowerment of disadvantaged women particularly those in rural areas, through programs of participatory development. These programs seek to transform all aspects of women's lives so that the women themselves begin to recognize their own potential and their rights and begin to speak through their own voices.

Osa Partners (contact [by phone]: +227 969603) - A non profit organization that promote humanitarian services encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help to build good will and peace in our regional communities. By creating job opportunities, the organization produces an added desire to shape a progressive image in a nation or community. They believe that the pursuit of excellence requires commitment and competence that should be marked by flexibility, risk taking and an enthusiasm that is infectious and invigorating to both themselves and those they serve.

Peace Movement for Sustainable Development (contact [by phone]: 234 836165421) - Peace Movement for Sustainable Development is promoting peaceful economic development of rural areas in Niger Delta through the provision of educational support facilities including the distribution of books and other educational materials, bursary awards and scholarships to the less privileged to enable them acquire university education. Also, the group focuses on capacity building and training to rehabilitate and make the youths employable. Lastly, the organization promotes economic empowerment through granting of interest-free loans to women and youths to support their business ventures.

Stepping Stones Nigeria – The group aims to provide greater educational opportunities for disadvantaged children, such as streetchildren and orphans, in the Niger Delta. They do so through the adoption of a holistic educational model that will equip each child with the necessary skills for becoming self-sufficient upon leaving school. This focus entails teaching farming, computing and carpentry skills. Also, stepping stones uses its resource center to educate communities about HIV/AIDS and provide women's microfinance initiatives.

UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) - Mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

World Health Organization – A specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Its major task is to combat disease, especially key infectious diseases, and to promote the general health of the peoples of the world. As well as coordinating international efforts to monitor outbreaks of infectious disease such as SARS, malaria, and AIDS, it also has programs to combat such diseases, by developing and distributing vaccines.

African Conservation Foundation - A volunteer organization dedicated to supporting and linking African conservation initiatives, groups and NGOs, with the aim to strengthen their capacity, build partnerships and promote effective communication and co-ordination of conservation efforts. The group offers volunteer opportunities abroad for all of those with an international interest. Also, ACF works to preserve Africa's wild heritage by supporting and linking conservation initiatives throughout the continent as well as by conducting field projects.

ARUDMO - A non-profit/non-governmental, voluntary, development organization with programs in Ghana, Kenya, Togo, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin and South Africa. The goal of the organization is to promote sustainable action against chronic poverty by providing resources and information that empower families and communities by helping such communities help themselves. ARUDMO's program areas are particularly focused toward supporting and promoting the interests of marginalized communities, such as youth, women and children.

Cross Cultural Solutions - Cross-Cultural Solutions is a non-profit organization founded in 1995. CCS has been operating international volunteer programs for over 10 years, with over 3,000 volunteers participating each year. CCS has a worldwide staff of over 250 people in 12 countries, with administrative offices also located in the United States and United Kingdom. The organization continues to provide volunteer opportunities worldwide for persons of all ages.

The International Volunteer Programs Association - An alliance of nonprofit, non-governmental organizations that are involved in international volunteer and internship exchanges. The group stands for responsibility in the field of international volunteerism and promotes public awareness of international volunteer programs. IVPA offers a forum for international volunteer program representatives (staff, board members, etc.) to share information and resources, develop new skills, and collaborate on cost-saving initiatives. IVPA also serves to guide and inform anyone considering volunteering abroad or developing international service opportunities.

Operation Crossroads Africa - America's premier cross-cultural exchange program, Operation Crossroads Africa was established in 1957 by Dr. James H. Robinson, who foresaw a "clear, honest, hard-hitting program" in which young Americans would work at the grassroots level with young Africans. The possibilities of volunteer work through the organization include strengthening AIDS awareness, building schools, reinforcing community centers and community health, mediating conflict, cooking, cutting wood, focusing on economic development, and improving education. Volunteers live with other members of their team as a group in a village and spend several hours a day in project activities.

Peace Corps: Niger - Peace Corps volunteers help to make real differences in the lives of real people. Niger has a number of opportunities that range from teaching children the basics of math, science, and English to working with a community to protect the local environment. The Peace Corps helps people to stay healthy, expand their businesses, or grow more nutritious food, while improving the human condition at the grassroots level. The opportunity allows a person to learn another language and culture and ultimately create a more understanding way of life throughout the world.

Service Civil International - A peace organization that co-ordinates international voluntary projects for people of all ages, cultures, religious and economic backgrounds. Its work is based in the belief that all people are capable of living together and co-operating with mutual respect and without recourse to violence to solve conflict. Through international voluntary work the group aims to give people the chance to experience this way of living whilst contributing in a useful manner to the community.

Universal Giving – Universal Giving is a social entrepreneurship non-profit dedicated to making giving and volunteering a natural part of everyday life. Its service connects donors and volunteers with exceptional organizations all over the world. Its primary focus is on underprivileged nations and addressing any immediate needs that those countries may have.

U.S. Doctors for Africa - The core Mission of US Doctors For Africa is to promote the flow of volunteer physicians, nurses and other medical professionals to Africa to provide desperately needed capacity building and direct medical services to populations ravaged by disease, malnutrition and inadequate medical care. USDFA actively pursues this mission by encouraging individuals to volunteer their time and expertise to this critical humanitarian cause. The organization partners with carefully screened medical organizations in Africa and matches their needs with the available volunteer base. Its goal is to make the volunteering experience a valuable, safe and gratifying one.

Village Volunteers - Village Volunteers is a non-profit organization that works in partnership with rural village and capacity-building programs to support the development of sustainable solutions for community survival, education, and growth. The organization was founded in the belief that partnership is a key factor in the renewal and healing of areas plagued by poverty and disease. Through collaboration based on friendship and the commitment to human rights, volunteers have the opportunity to strengthen ties across the boundaries of international borders, race, gender, age, and culture. Village Volunteers is dedicated to preparing volunteers to be culturally sensitive and educated about the goals and objectives of each community, inspiring a sense of global citizenship.