Niger-Support for the National Scheme for the Prevention and Management of Disasters and Crises (DNPGCCA)

Context

Niger is a priority country for the Prince's Government. The economy of Niger is based mainly on the agropastoral sector, which remains the main source of employment and income for more than 80% of the population.

More than half of the population of Niger live below the poverty line. Various crises and disasters in the region (many different climatic, ecological, social and economic problems) have caused the displacement of populations.

Sustainable food security is one of the main priorities for the Nigerien authorities. Therefore, the National Scheme for the Prevention and Management of Disasters and Crises (DNPGCCA) was created to guarantee food and nutritional security for vulnerable households in this country via the prevention, timely warning and effective management of disasters and food crisis.

This project consists of support for the Plan to Support Vulnerable Populations, implemented for the 2016-2018 period by the DNPGCCA and targeting nutritional preventative measures for children aged 6 to 23 months and pregnant and nursing mothers suffering from acute malnutrition and living in very poor households in vulnerable towns, via the distribution of a supplementary food complement (Blanket Feeding) [i] .

The DNPGCCA is directly linked to the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Niger. This scheme forms part of the 3N initiative (Nigeriens Nourish Nigeriens) to promote food security and sustainable agricultural development.

[i] Blanket Feeding is a campaign to distribute a specific supplementary food to all the children of a certain age group in a given geographical area that has been identified as an area where most households are at risk of food insecurity.  It is therefore considered that all the children aged between six months and two years are at risk of being affected by malnutrition to a greater or lesser degree (UNICEF).

Project owner

Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Niger
DNPGCCA

Overall objective

Help the targeted households and groups that are affected by humanitarian risk factors to have access to healthy, varied food and protect their livelihoods.

Beneficiaries

• 44,450 children aged 6 to 23 months
• 17,078 pregnant and nursing women

Anticipated outcomes 

• Improved access to healthy, varied food and nutrients for the target populations
• Protect or reinstate the livelihoods of populations affected by food crises and/or natural disasters
• Effective tools to prevent and manage natural disasters and food crises