Context
Violent conflicts, terrorist attacks and cross-border raids in Niger and its neighbouring countries have been displacing people for many years. Thousands of people every year flee to Niger from Nigeria, Mali and Burkina Faso – especially to the border regions of Maradi and Tahoua. There is also displacement within the country. The regions experience severe poverty, inadequate basic services such as water and growing food insecurity.
Women and girls are particularly affected by poverty, displacement, exclusion, gender-based violence, lack of access to education and incomes, and lack of agency to make decisions. Gender roles hinder their participation in communities.
Objective
Women in (forced) displacement contexts in the Maradi and Tahoua regions are more empowered to shape their own social and economic lives.
Approach
The project is primarily aimed at female refugees from Nigeria as well as at internally displaced people and residents of the host communities in parts of the Tahoua and Maradi regions.
The project improves their earning opportunities, offering training courses for this purpose, for example for members of cooperatives and savings groups. It also provides financial support and training for micro enterprises with growth potential.
In addition, the project is expanding social services in women’s empowerment centres. For example, it provides information about social empowerment and how to claim rights and opportunities, offers psychosocial support and encourages social cohesion between the target groups.
Last update: July 2025