Humanitarian assistance in remote areas of Niger
The project led by the Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF) provided humanitarian assistance to pastoral communities living in remote areas of Niger. Activities were centered around leading health and dental missions in the Gadabeji Biosphere Reserve (GBR), in the Maradi region, and the Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserves (ATNNR), in the region of Agadez. SCF and ESAFRO staff provided health care to communities for whom accessibility to medical centers was difficult, the level of isolation of the population being a criterion for intervention. More specifically, 9 healthcare missions took place, 4 in the ATNNR and 5 in the GBR and 3 dental missions in the ATNNR, reaching 1,614 direct beneficiaries, with over 50% of women. They paired health services with the distribution of children winter clothing and also raised awareness on basic hygiene and care, to help improve daily practices and overall health. In addition, this was an opportunity for SCF staff to engage with the population to raise awareness about the protection of existing biodiversity in the reserves, explaining that the health missions were part of a broader approach including wildlife conservation. Thanks to the hard work of the teams, and the dedication of the nurses and doctors, local communities are getting more supportive of healthcare missions, being more trustful, welcoming and even facilitating their delivery. An improvement in health and care practices, including eating habits, was noticed among beneficiaries.
The Sahara Conservation Fund is an International NGO registered in the USA and Europe. It aims to conserve the wildlife, habitats and other natural resources of the Sahara and its bordering Sahelian grasslands.
News
Four new projects approved in March 2021
1 June 2021
The Addax and Oryx Foundation granted funding for four new projects at its March Board meeting.Healthcare in remote areas of Niger
23 February 2023
During the second year of the project, the Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF) has taken the lead in linking health services to its efforts to safeguard both the wildlife and the people sharing the places where it works.Three projects recently completed
15 July 2024
Three projects in Niger, Senegal, and Tanzania have successfully come to an end. Click on the photo to read more!
Niger
Population
24.2 million (2020)
Per Capita Income
USD1,230/year (2020)
Poverty rate *
42% (2021)
Literacy rate
35% (2018)
Human Development Index
189th out of 189 countries
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world. It is prone to political instability and exogenous shocks, notably droughts which cause chronic food insecurity. It has one of the fastest growing populations in the world with a 3.9% yearly growth rate. Over the past twenty years, Niger’s social indicators have improved significantly. Gross primary school enrolment has increased from 40 % in 2003 to 74% in 2017. Secondary school enrolment remains extremely low at 21%, among the three lowest in the world. Although the mortality rate for children under five has decreased, it remains extremely high at 91 per 1,000 in 2016. HIV/AIDS prevalence has remained stable at 0.4%, one of the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Sources: World Food Program, UNICEF, World Bank, 2016 Human Development Report, Human Development Indices and Indicators (2018 Statistical Update)
*The percentage of the population living below the national poverty line.