Niger

The 12^th partnership committee meeting was held on 18 October 2019 in Niamey, co-chaired by Minister Lenert. This forum, dedicated to dialogue between the two countries’ authorities, made it possible to take stock of bilateral cooperation. Despite the worsening security situation in the Sahel and in Niger in particular and its implications in terms of development cooperation, the implementation of the various Luxembourgish development programmes has been achieved without incident. On the basis of the encouraging results observed during the 2018/2019 financial year, budget increases of EUR 6.86 million and EUR 3.19 million respectively have been confirmed in the sectors of water and sanitation and rural development. In addition, a memorandum of understanding with a value of EUR 1.46 million has been signed for a project to support the public spending chain. The total budget increases granted in 2019 within the ICP III thus amount to EUR 11.5 million.

In the water and sanitation sector, where Luxembourg acts as lead partner of the technical and financial partners in Niger, a delegated cooperation agreement with a value of EUR 15 million was signed with the Netherlands on 12 November 2019. The latter is in addition to the delegated cooperation agreement signed with Denmark in December 2017, with a value of EUR 26 million, as well as an EU contribution as part of the Sahel Alliance amounting to EUR 8 million, illustrating the confidence of the other donors with regard to Luxembourg’s commitment and professionalism in a sector that is vital for Niger and its population.

Within the framework of multilateral cooperation, Luxembourg has continued its support to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for a programme to support the integration of rights, the health of adolescents and countering demographic growth (Illimin programme) and launched a new programme with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) with the aim of better nutrition for new-borns during their first 1,000 days.

Again under the ICP III, Luxembourg continued its financial support to the joint donors’ fund to the Niger state national mechanism for the prevention and management of food crises (DNPGCA).

Adopting its global, integrated and consistent ‘3D’ approach, Luxembourg has supported the European Union’s civilian mission ‘EUCAP SAHEL Niger’, based in Niamey and Agadez and aiming to build capacity for combating terrorism and organised crime among the various security forces. Since 2013 Luxembourg has been funding four projects for defence and security forces in Niger. The fifth project, with a value of EUR 767,000, consists of supporting the acquisition of 32 container modules in order to upgrade the check posts in the zones for access to and exit from the capital as well as in some towns in the regions of Agadez, Tahoua and Zinder, and the acquisition of an off-road vehicle specially equipped for desert missions.

In 2019, seven Luxembourgish NGOs, currently working under a multiannual framework agreement with the MFA with a budget of EUR 6.8 million, were implementing development projects in Niger. In addition, four Luxembourgish NGOs were implementing humanitarian projects.

Finally, Luxembourg participated in the African Union summit held in Niamey from 7 to 8 July. In this context the Embassy’s office has financed many micro-projects, in particular through cooperation with the Fondation Tattali Iyali; this project has contributed to tree-planting in the city of Niamey, and an exhibition of the treasures of Niger has been organised.