Country Description:

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, with infant and maternal mortality rates among the highest in Africa. On a daily basis, the majority of people living in Niger face food insecurity, disease, illiteracy, weak institutional support and limited means to participate in government. Niger is one of the world’s most sparsely populated countries; paradoxically, it has one of the highest birth rates in the world, straining already limited agricultural resources and food supplies.

CARE has been worked in Niger since 1974 and has implemented more than 50 projects, representing a value of more than $ 70 million. CARE’s programs are in livelihood security, civil society organization development, governance, gender, health, HIV/AIDS and micro-finance. CARE Niger has solid experience in conflict resolution and community mobilization around water, food security and natural resources management.

CARE’s vision in Niger is to create a new spirit of development, working in partnership with families and communities. CARE is currently conducting 15 projects in all seven regions (Tillaberi, Dosso, Tahoua, Agadez, Maradi, Diffa and Zinder) of the country and focuses on protecting households’ assets to increase their capacities to face shocks and food insecurity. Other programming principles include gender and diversity, partnership development with CBOs and local NGOs and building capacity for emergency response.