In Niger, the villagers rebuild

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Tillabery, in western Niger, was one of the regions hardest hit by the Sahel food crisis in 2004-2005. Hundreds of lives were lost here due to hunger, and lack of access to adequate medical services. In a truly innovative program to rebuild communities here, Oxfam empowered villagers to decide themselves what should be done.

Residents in Ouallam and Tillabery in western Niger (a region devastated by the 2004/05 food-crisis) have been rebuilding their lives their own way, with the support of Oxfam. Food security adviser John Karongo reports.

Tillabery was one of the regions hardest hit by the Sahel food crisis in 2004-2005. Hundreds of lives were lost here due to hunger, and lack of access to adequate medical services. In a truly innovative program to rebuild communities here, Oxfam empowered villagers to decide themselves what should be done, and who should be targeted ”“ forcing the organization to change tack in the process.Aziza Zainabu, from the Inatess commune in northwest Tillabery region, has this to say, ”˜'Oxfam is unique; who else would give you the opportunity of choosing what you want to do, and afterwards gives you food for what you have done in your own interest? Thanks Oxfam.' Emergency responseThe first phase of our response in 2005 was a voucher-for-work program.Then from January to April of this year, together with AREN (our local partner), we implemented a cash-for-work project. This has been funded by the Disasters Emergency Committee (an umbrella organization representing 13 leading UK agencies ”“ including Oxfam). Village Development committees played a central role in identifying and selecting those people who were to benefit from our work. The Village Development Committees set criteria to define vulnerable households, including those with:

  • limited access to credit,
  • less than half a hectare of land,
  • no livestock,
  • a lack of food reserves,
  • and female-headed households.

Together with the rest of the village, the Village Development Committee selected activities that they believed would have the most impact in their community. Jenny Mathews/ OxfamRebuilding infrastructureWe had intended to focus our work purely on food security, but the villagers had other ideas ”“ they also wanted Oxfam to help support them in rebuilding infrastructure. Working together, the result was extremely positive. The toil and sweat of the villagers, supported by money, and technical expertise from Oxfam, has led to the rebuilding and restoration of:

  • water management and soil erosion structures,
  • animal trails,
  • school and health centre walls,
  • two houses for teachers and school directors,
  • a student dormitory
  • and a mortuary.

Overall resultsMore than US$245,000 (£130,000 GBP) has been injected into targeted communities, to help strengthen the local economy, through cash-for-work. A total of 2,279 people benefited from the project ”“ including 913 female-headed households. The work took place in 29 villages, in four communes (Inatess, Banibangou, Anzourou and Bibiyergou).While visiting the program's activities, Abdou Salam-Hamidan deputy head of Ouallam Department had this to say, ”˜'We are very satisfied by what Oxfam was able to do within three months. Oxfam has realized what others have not done in two years ”“ we hope Oxfam will continue supporting the most affected population.'

More funding is desperately needed to continue our work in the Tillabery region.

Originally published by Oxfam GB, June 2006