Development cooperation project in Niger - Living a self-determined life

The Viennese development cooperation organisation "The Rain Workers" and a local project partner are implementing a 3-year project in Niger to improve reproductive health.

Trainings focus on the topic of family planning to reduce poverty. The project also aims to reduce teenage pregnancies, end gender-based violence, stop female genital mutilation (FGM), and prevent HIV/AIDS. Media articles about family planning are included in the project.

The "train the trainer" approach promotes further social development. In addition, women get access to an oil mill to reduce food insecurity.

The project area is located in the Zinder Region in the south of Niger. The main target group are marginalised women and girls but also boys, men and village heads. Over the duration of the project, about 18,000 people in 60 villages will profit from the educational and health measures.

Niger is located in the Sahel region and covers an area of 1.3 million square kilometres. The country, which is one of the poorest in the world, has a population of about 27 million people. Niger also has the world's youngest population: 58 percent are under 18 years old. About half of the population lives in complete poverty. Negative factors affecting the country include high population growth, conflicts over access to water, arable and grazing land, climate change, tensions between ethnic groups, religiously motivated violence, ineffective security forces and weak state structures.