Niger

Conflict and insecurity have continued to exacerbate a very fragile situation in the Sahel region, mainly affecting the countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Civilians face continued attacks by non-state actors, disrupting livelihoods and creating widespread displacement. Climate change further complicates the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Niger. Prone to drought, civilians in the country face chronic food insecurity, forced displacement and risks of additional conflict.

The ongoing issues in Niger have led to strained resources and a weakened educational infrastructure. Children and adolescents are left out of the classroom at high rates, and COVID-19 closures disrupted the education of those enrolled. Being out of the classroom exposes girls and boys to risks such as recruitment by armed groups, sexual and gender-based violence, child labour, and other forms of exploitation and abuse.

Building on the impact of the First Emergency Response (FER) initially rolled out in 2019, ECW has launched a Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP). As part of the Fund’s regional response, MYRPs have also been launched in Burkina Faso and Mali. All the programmes seek to strengthen the education sector and provide for children’s critical needs in the areas of safety and protection.

In Niger, the programme works to expand access to learning spaces; cover school fees for families; provide remedial learning courses; strengthen the capacity for the learning environment; support educators; and engage the communities in which they work. ECW also provides support for girls and children with disabilities; increases enrolment rates; and implements school protections through a holistic approach that meets children and adolescents’ physical, mental and psychosocial needs.