Press Release
11 July 2007
DFID boosts efforts to avert hunger crises in Niger
Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development, today
announced a new package of measures to tackle the root causes of hunger and
malnutrition in Niger, the world’s poorest country.
The £3 million programme will reduce the long term vulnerability of 73,000
men, women and children to food and nutrition crises.
Although Niger’s last large-scale food crisis in 2005 was widely blamed on
external shocks such as drought and locusts, it had its roots in more complex
issues around poverty, vulnerability and fragile livelihoods.
Speaking in advance of the publication of “Beyond Any Drought”, a joint NGO
report on the need for international agencies to fund this kind of work, Douglas
Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development, said:
“The Niger crisis of 2005 saw over 3 million men, women and children face
starvation. Since then the UK has committed over £10 million in humanitarian aid
to tackle the immediate problems.
“However to tackle the root causes of the food crises in Niger, today I am
pleased to announce an additional £3 million. We’re working with Care
International and other NGOs to lead efforts that will give people who live on
the knife-edge between food security and food crisis some hope.”
Led by
 CARE International in partnership with six other international and
national NGOs, the DFID funded package announced today will include:
- Improvement of early warning systems to identify factors that limit
communities' access to food;
- Strengthening of livelihoods and helping communities adapt to climate
change through distribution of improved seed varieties, restocking of
livestock and improved access to water and veterinary healthcare;
- Training to prepare for and reduce the effects of disasters on
vulnerable communities for example by establishing fodder and cereal banks;
- Diversification of livelihoods through promotion of off-season vegetable
farming, facilitating small businesses and provision of small loans;
- Provision of ‘safety nets’ in the form of seasonal cash for work, food
for work and cash transfers schemes; and
- Monitoring the impact of these activities on vulnerable groups with a
view to influencing national and international disaster prevention policies.
 Back to top
Notes to editors
1. The NGO Consortium for Coordinated Disaster Risk Reduction in Niger will
run over three years (from July 1st 2007 until March 31st 2010) and will focus
on the Maradi and Tahoua regions of Niger.
2. The consortium will be led by CARE international working with
ACF,
CONCERN,
JEMED (a national NGO with financial and technical backing from UK NGO
Tearfund),
MASNAT (a national NGO with financial and technical backing from UK
NGO Relief International).
For further information, contact 020 7023 0600 or e-mail
pressoffice@dfid.gov.uk
Back to top
Links
Back to top
| 
Directgov |
