N4D IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT OF NIGER
1.0
Overview
CHILDREN REQUIRE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
PEOPLE ARE INTERNALLY DISPLACED
PEOPLE NEED HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
PEOPLE FACING FOOD & NUTRITION INSECURITY
%
CHILDREN AGED UNDER 5 YEARS ARE WASTED
%
CHILDREN AGED UNDER 5 YEARS SUFFER FROM MODERATE TO SEVERE STUNTING
KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN NIGER
Since the dissolution of HC3N in 2023, the Groupe Technique Nutrition (GTN) has become the main coordination forum, led by the Ministry of Public Health with UNICEF as co-coordinator and an international NGO as co-facilitator. Discussions focus mainly on nutrition-specific actions, with a sub-group covering nutrition-sensitive programming.
Civil society is strongly represented through ‘Tous Unis pour Nutrition’ (TUN), a network of 71 NGOs across eight regions, which supports coordination, advocacy, the integration of nutrition into local budgets and generating resources for nutrition.
1.1
Key characteristics of a NEXUS approach to nutrition
A HDPN approach to nutrition is guided by wider HDPN approaches such as the OECD DAC Recommendation on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (see pdf download below).
N4D defines a HDPN approach for nutrition as:
“… [when] all humanitarian, development and peace actors draw on their comparative advantages and work in collaboration and coherence with each other, under national leadership, in order to achieve the collective outcome of sustained improvements in nutrition for all people. All stakeholders align with national and sub-national priorities as outlined in one overarching, national and multisectoral nutrition action plan.”
Key elements of a HDPN approach:
- Collective outcomes to sustainably reduce needs, risks and vulnerabilities by preventing, preparing and responding to malnutrition;
- Collaborative and coherent ways of working between humanitarian, development and peace-building actors;
- Drawing on respective comparative advantages; and
- Convergence of HDPN actions on the same at-risk populations.
Learn more
DAC Recommendation on the OECD Legal Instruments Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (pdf)
Strengthening the Humanitarian-
Development Nexus for Nutrition in Protracted Crises (pdf)
Lessons learned and recommendations from
the humanitarian-development nexus for nutrition (pdf)
1.2
The Niger Context
Niger has long been a leader in nutrition innovation, adopting a multisectoral “Nexus” approach through initiatives such as the 2012 Nigeriens Nourishing Nigeriens (I3N) programme. From 2011 to 2023, the country implemented a national strategy on food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture, prioritising prevention and the reduction of child stunting.
These efforts led to the National Nutrition Security Policy (2017–2025), successive action plans and the integration of acute malnutrition management into the national budget in 2020—marking a shift from humanitarian to development approaches. Political commitment strengthened, reflected in improved rankings on the Hunger and Nutrition Commitment Index and expanded access to essential services, including safe water, supplementation, breastfeeding support and girls’ education. Innovative programmes such as school feeding, community-based prevention of acute malnutrition and fortified foods have also delivered positive results.
However, despite this progress, malnutrition rates remain high and child undernutrition has largely stagnated over the past decade, highlighting the need for accelerated and sustained action.
3N Initiative ‘Nigeriens Nourishing Nigeriens’ (I3N) focuses on sustainable agricultural practices, food and nutrition security and income generation, as well as social integration of the most vulnerable, including women. I3N sparked a new way of looking at nutrition as more than just a humanitarian issue or under food security.
The National Mechanism for the Prevention and Management of Disasters and Food Crises (DNPGCA) is attached to the Prime Minister’s office and provides the response to food and nutritional emergencies. The Ministry of Humanitarian Action and Disaster Management coordinates the nutritional response in camps and sites for displaced people.
Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agricultural Development (SAN/DAD) strategy
Prevelance of stunting, wasting and overweight in children under 5
Source: Global Nutriton Report; SMART Survey 2025
The provisional results of the SMART 2025 survey highlight a critical situation for child nutrition. Across the country:
• 1 in 2 children (50.5%) are affected by stunting
• 35% are underweight
• 67.5% suffer from anaemia
Between August 2024 and July 2025, the Integrated Classification Framework for Acute Malnutrition (ICM) estimates that 1.7 million children under five (11.1%) experienced acute malnutrition. Of these:
• 1.28 million suffered from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM)
• 412,400 (2.8%) suffered from severe acute malnutrition (SAM)
Diet quality has also declined sharply:
• Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) fell to 8.7% in 2025, down from 17.7% in 2022
• Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD) dropped to 6.7%, compared to 14.2% in 2022
These figures point to a worsening nutrition crisis, underscoring the urgent need for strengthened interventions and sustained action.
1.3
Humanitarian, development and peace financing in Niger
Source: States of Fragility
Estimates of domestic financing for nutrition showed an encouraging increase from 0.9 per cent to 3.1 per cent of GDP between 2018 and 2022. Before the change of government in 2023, there was a perception that humanitarian financing was declining faster than development assistance but the recent departures of some international donors and agencies means humanitarian financing is now the main form of international support. Anecdotal estimates are that humanitarian financing is currently 80-85 per cent of overall Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Niger.
The international donors that remain in Niger support a wide array of health systems’ strengthening, resilience building and health, food security and nutrition security programmes. Many do not finance through government, instead allocating resources through international agencies and national non-government organisations. Some donors include Niger in Sahelian regional programmes, e.g., UK Aid, Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), and a World Bank programme being developed to tackle malnutrition across the Sahel with a focus on prevention. Some donors consider themselves to be primarily development (and in some cases nexus) focussed, e.g., German Cooperation (GIZ), SDC and Spanish Cooperation.
QUOTE FROM DONOR REPRESENTATIVE
‘It is important to think about a “reverse nexus” approach whereby development leads and when a crisis happens there are contingency funds to respond, but then we must quickly revert back to the development approach’.
2.0
Nexus approach in action
DEVELOPING A NEXUS APPROACH IN NIGER
PRE 2016
2016
WORLD HUMANITARIAN SUMMIT
- World Humanitarian Summit, resulting in ‘The Grand Bargain’: a pledge between humanitarian actors and donor to improve effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian actions through “Nexus Approach”
- Recognition that nexus could address increasing complexity of crises in Niger and the Sahel
2017
A NEW WAY OF WORKING
- The New Way of Working (a Nexus approach) calls on humanitarian and development actors to work towards ‘collective outcomes’ that reduce need, risk and vulnerability over multiple years.
2018
PUBLICATION OF HDP NEXUS FRAMEWORK
- The Government of Niger developed a framework for operationalizing the Nexus HDP
- High-level Tripartite Committee (CTHN) formed in May 2018
2019
ROADMAP FOR HDP NEXUS
Adoption of a roadmap for operationalizing the Nexus HDP (CTTNUD action plan)
2020–2022
STUDY ON NEXUS IN ACTION
- In-depth study on operationalization of Nexus approach in Tahoua and Tillabéri regions
2022–2023
FORMATION OF SUB-NATIONAL NEXUS GROUPS
- Subnational nexus groups were formed to encourage nexus decentralization
2025-2027
NEW ACTION PLAN
- CTTNUD has developed an action plan that includes workshops for directors of ministries on how to integrate a nexus approach into sector policies and plans
These key principles broadly align with those set out in various CTTNUD documents and tools:
Building nutrition resilience through a combination of multisector nutrition specific and sensitive activities targeted to the at-risk populations in crisis vulnerable localities;
Coordination between humanitarian, development and peace actors to synergise efforts and ensure long-term nutrition resilience building;
Localise planning and responses to better identify local problems and solutions, enable earlier response to shocks(risk mitigation) and build sustainable locally governed services; and
Multi-year funding to enable predictable resources for planning and implementation.
Indicators can be developed for the above principles, which can be used to monitor progress towards building a stronger nexus for nutrition.
3.0
Next Steps
The next steps to advance a nutrition nexus approach in Niger are to reformulate the existing multisectoral nutrition policy and action plan (PNSN), preceded by an evaluation of the existing PNSN (which runs until November 2025). Once the policy and plan have been elaborated, next steps will include resource mobilisation and monitoring implementation of the policy and plan.
Key Evaluation Findings
Strong and relevant framework: The PNSN brings together nutrition policies under a coherent multisectoral approach and remains highly relevant.
Improved institutional capacity: Nutrition units, focal points, and well-functioning technical groups have strengthened coordination and leadership.
Progress in implementation: Successive action plans (2016–2025) have delivered measurable advances across sectors.
Ongoing coordination challenges: Aligning programmes across ministries and partners remains difficult, limiting effective data tracking and reporting.
Financing constraints: Insufficient funding and weak financial tracking continue to hinder full implementation.
Broad partner engagement: Development partners support nutrition through integrated programmes across key sectors.
Strong foundation for the future: Despite challenges, the existing framework provides a solid base for a more effective next phase.
Shaping the Next PNSN
The rapid evaluation will inform the new PNSN 2026–30 and its action plan. N4D will support the Ministry of Health in drafting the policy, developing the action plan, and mobilising resources.
The next phase of the PNSN should build on a strong foundation while addressing persistent gaps. Priorities include strengthening multisectoral coordination, aligning with national strategies and focusing on high-impact interventions that reduce all forms of malnutrition.
A more integrated humanitarian-development-peace (HDP) nexus approach is essential, particularly in the context of climate change and protracted crises. This includes improving accountability across sectors, strengthening data and learning systems, and investing in national and local capacity.
Sustainable progress will also depend on diversified financing, stronger partnerships and clear guidance for sectoral action. Critically, there is a need to shift toward prevention-focused approaches, tackling the root causes of malnutrition rather than relying on treatment alone.
Recommendations
🟢 Strengthen Coordination – Reinforce multisectoral governance and alignment
🎯 Focus on Impact – Prioritise interventions that reduce all forms of malnutrition
⚖️ Improve Accountability – Clarify roles across sectors and protect vulnerable groups
🔗 Adopt Nexus Approach – Integrate humanitarian, development, and peace efforts
📊 Use Data Better – Strengthen monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems
🏗️ Build Capacity – Equip national and local actors to deliver results
💰 Diversify Financing – Combine public, donor, and private funding sources
🤝 Expand Partnerships – Engage government, donors, private sector, and communities
🌱 Prioritise Prevention – Address root causes—not just treatment
This page will continue to be updated with content and other supporting documents as the project progresses. We welcome any feedback and are always keen to engage in discussion.
All main images © Unicef. Other images N4D.