Enhanced cooperation between the European Union and Niger

On top of that, the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa approved nine support projects for Niger in 2016, worth a further €140 million. These projects are fully consistent with the commitments made under the Valletta Action Plan. They aim to combat human trafficking, improve border controls and fight the root causes of migration by offering economic alternatives. The goal is also to help ensure protection and assisted return for migrants, support capacity building for local authorities and communities, and improve the resilience of people living in the Lake Chad Basin region.

Current economic situation in Niger

Niger is a priority country for the EU. We work together closely under the security and development strategy in the Sahel region and the New Migration Partnership Framework. Tangible progress has been made under this Partnership, as indicated in the Second Progress Report presented by the European Commission on 14 December. Alongside the development aspect of relations between the two parties, Niger is also a key partner for the management of migration and security in the Sahel region.

The country is facing a variety of challenges in terms of development, geography, population change, security, migration, the environment and humanitarian aid. The country is bottom of the United Nations Human Development Index (UNHDI), despite having made significant progress in recent years in terms of economic growth and social development. The food security situation is structurally fragile because of poor harvests caused by drought and recurring floods (the result of climate change) and the precarious conditions in which the vast majority of Nigerien people live. Population growth continues to represent a huge challenge for the government, with a growth rate of 3.9% and a fertility rate of 7.6 births per woman.

In recent years, progress has been made in the economic sector, aimed at assisting the country's development. This has been made possible thanks to the considerable efforts made by the government to undertake reforms, under the ‘Economic and Social Development Plan (ESDP)', which now needs to be revised for the period 2017-2010. These reforms must be consolidated to ensure further progress. The EU is supporting Niger in its efforts.

Cooperation between the EU and Niger

Relations between the EU and Niger are based on healthy political dialogue and development cooperation. The EU's financial support for Niger amounts to €596 million under the 11th European Development Fund, for the period 2014-2020.

During the first phase of the 11th European Development Fund (2014-2017), the EU provided Niger with €562 million (including an extra €30 million from the EDF reserve). These funds allow the EU to work in close cooperation with the government of Niger to foster sustainable agricultural development and food security, improve the education sector, strengthen state-building and democratic governance, and improve road access to remote areas.

The financial assistance is aligned with the government's strategic priorities and is aimed at supporting education and agriculture, while consolidating political stability, justice and security.

Under the 10th European Development Fund (2008-2013), Niger received a total of €508 million to fund three areas: rural development and food security, regional integration, and governance. Thirty-five per cent of this amount was provided in the form of budget support, with the aim of supporting the country's efforts to improve access to basic social services, protect vulnerable sections of the population and promote good governance and the rule of law.

The Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa

In order to manage migration and population displacements in Africa, the European Commission created an ‘Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa'. The fund receives €2.4 billion from the EU budget and from the European Development Fund, supplemented by contributions from EU Member States and other donors. Member States' contributions currently stand at some €81.5 million, and the EU expects further contributions to come.

The trust fund benefits a wide range of countries in Africa, especially those located along the main African migration routes to Europe. Niger is one of those countries. The fund aims to foster stability in these areas and help ensure better management of migration. More specifically, it seeks to remedy the root causes of destabilisation, forced displacement and irregular migration by promoting equal opportunities, security and development.

Nine projects, worth a total of €139.9 million, have already been approved for Niger under the Trust Fund. These projects are the EU's practical response to commitments undertaken as part of the Action Plan adopted at the Valletta Summit on 11 and 12 November 2015, and in which Niger will play a highly active, constructive role. Niger is currently one of the main beneficiaries of the Trust Fund.

The projects include three new initiatives adopted yesterday, amounting to €35 million. Their goal is to enhance cooperation to facilitate the return and reintegration of irregular migrants, while ensuring protection and assistance for those deemed most vulnerable. They are also intended to create economic opportunities, especially for young people, in regions with strong migratory potential, and to enhance the resilience of local communities through sustainable livelihoods.

Niger also receives funding from regional instruments (the Regional Indicative Programme for West Africa, intra-ACP programmes), subject-specific budget lines and other instruments such as the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace and the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights.

Examples of projects in Niger:

Justice for all, the Support Programme for Justice and the Rule of Law (PAJED)

Niger's Constitution guarantees equality before the law for all citizens and access to justice for all. However, this is somewhat idealistic given the country's socio-economic circumstances, with most of the population living below the poverty line and almost all lawyers based in the capital.. The result is flagrant discrimination in terms of access to justice, depending on location, gender, and social or economic status. The country also struggles with overcrowded prisons, in which most prisoners await trial for years on end, with people afraid to take legal action to defend their rights.

The Support Programme for Justice and the Rule of Law (PAJED), under the European Development Fund, has supported the implementation of national legal aid policies, including the creation of a National Legal Aid Agency (ANAJJ) for the poorest and most vulnerable people, such as women and minors.

The Agency is currently active in all of the country's regions, playing a key role in defending human rights in Niger. More than 10 000 citizens have already benefited from its services: legal aid for defendants, legal advice, assistance for victims of crime, etc. ‘Justice for all' is starting to become a reality in Niger.

‘Migrant Resource and Response Mechanism'

This project aims to support Niger's response to the complex migratory flows passing through its territory, for example by promoting economic and social development through circular migration.

The aim of the project is to help national and regional authorities improve their governance of migration, through the mechanism. It seeks to boost the capacity of local authorities to ensure better protection of transiting migrants and those returning to Niger, and support alternatives to irregular migration, in partnership with local authorities and civil society.

‘Strengthening migration management and governance and sustainable returns to Niger'

The aim of this programme, adopted by the EU on 14 December, is to ensure the protection, return and sustainable reintegration of migrants. Through the various centres set up along the migration route and supported by the Fund, the International Organisation for Migration provides emergency humanitarian aid and frontline assistance (accommodation, food, medical care, psychological support and basic non-food items). Specific support services are also available, tailored to the needs of the most vulnerable people, such as unaccompanied migrant children, migrants at risk of trafficking and abuse, migrants with psycho-social and health needs, and people who need international protection as refugees.

Reducing chronic malnutrition

The ‘Initiative to speed up progress towards the Millennium Development Goals' was launched to help Niger contribute to the first Millennium Development Goal: ‘To halve the proportion of people suffering from hunger'. This meant enhancing the prevention of child malnutrition, and improving access to clean water and hygiene practices, since the nutrition/health and water access aspects are mutually reinforcing. This combination is based on a preventive approach to the fight against malnutrition. The aim is to improve the nutritional status of children under five through preventive measures in the context of maternal and infant health.

In 2015, 32 000 mosquito nets and 200 000 packets of multi-micronutrients were distributed. Some 1 225 000 children were treated against parasites and received vitamin A to cover their needs.

Access to clean water was improved thanks to the creation of 618 modern water supply points. Hygiene and sanitation were also enhanced by the construction of 1 910 family latrines, 180 domestic waste water drainage systems, 32 public latrines and a change in the habits of the beneficiary populations.

By capitalising on this experience, Niger will be in a position to adopt a more far-reaching approach to malnutrition prevention, and thus to gradually reduce chronic malnutrition, especially among children.

MEMO/16/4375