N4D IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT OF NIGER
1.0
Overview
Niger has a long history of food and nutrition crises with 80 per cent of the population dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. The country made progress in poverty reduction between 2014 and 2019: agriculture was the main driver for economic growth, with poverty dropping by 5.4 percentage points*. Despite such gains, poverty affects over 40 per cent of the population with higher levels of poverty in rural areas.
The country faces multiple vulnerabilities including insecurity, population growth, population displacement, poverty and climate risks. The population increased from 17 million in 2012 to 25.4 million in 2023. Sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following the coup d’etat in July 2023 worsened levels of food insecurity, particularly in the regions most affected by the crisis – Diffa, Maradi, Tahoua and Tillabéri. Persistent violence and insecurity between 2019 and 2023 resulted in mass displacement: more than 308,200 migrants arrived, more than 1.2 million moved within the country and more than 2.2 million left. The Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) found that around 3.4 million people were food insecure during the 2024 lean season (June to August), with a lack of assistance for around 1.5 million people. Current Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) funding is less than 19 per cent.
* Source: Niger Poverty Assessment, 2021
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
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
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
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.
N4D support areas
Short-term activities
Short presentation of findings (see pdf below) from N4D scoping visit (February 2025) to key stakeholders (GTN members and other working groups, CTTNUD members, SUN Networks, etc) to ensure all stakeholders have an opportunity to discuss the proposed ways forward and raise questions
Co-create a detailed workplan with Niger colleagues (MoH/DN, MoHA/GC and PNIN) to provide a framework for regular meetings, discussion of progress and course change where needed
Medium-to long-term activities
Evaluation of PNSN is clearly a major priority in Niger and will require clear Terms of Reference (ToR) to guide the process. N4D can support all elements of this process as requested by colleagues in MoH/DN, MoHA/GC and PNIN/INS.
PNSN updates will be a significant undertaking also requiring a clear process, regular engagement of working group members and orientation on the need for the policy and plan to be nexus sensitive. N4D can help define nutrition nexus-centric indicators for monitoring adherence to a nexus approach within PNSN and support the process.
Resource mobilisation includes resources for the convening body authorised to oversee the evaluation and iteration of the new PNSN Policy and Action Plan; and generating domestic and international resources for implementing the PNSN Action Plan. Both Ethiopia and Yemen colleagues have substantial experience of developing resource mobilisation plans and advocacy, which can be transferred to benefit Niger.
Learning between Ethiopia, Yemen and Niger on advancing multi-sector nutrition action plans through a nexus approach can be of great value through peer exchange and unpacking examples of good practice to inform policies, plans and approaches. N4D is considering a learning exchange in the region in late 2025.
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.