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Note: This document may not always reflect the actual appropriations determined by Congress. Final budget allocations for USAID's programs are not determined until after passage of an appropriations bill and preparation of the Operating Year Budget (OYB).

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NIGER

FY 1998 Development Fund for Africa: $3,500,000

FY 1998 Development Fund for Africa

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$3,500,000

Introduction

The United States continues to have strong interests in Niger, although the USAID program there has been substantially reduced as a result of the January 1996 coup and subsequent fraudulent elections. It is in the U.S. national interest that democracy be restored in Niger and that Niger once again become a viable partner for social progress and economic growth. Niger's ability to contribute to regional stability is of paramount importance in order for West Africa to become an integrated region. To this purpose, it is important that an environment be maintained in which a policy dialogue with the political class can continue. Specifically, USAID has an interest in the maintenance of regional peace and stability by supporting: a. the 1995 Government of Niger-Tuareg peace accords, b. economic and social conditions which encourage democracy and discourage Islamic extremism, c. and mitigating the effects of epidemics and famine which destabilize the region.

Prior to January 1996, Niger was a sustainable development country with a current and planned annual USAID budget of about $20 million. The overthrow of the elected government and the subsequent fraudulent elections resulted in a USAID decision to terminate all bilateral assistance, pursuant to U.S. government laws and policy determinations. All bilateral assistance to the Government of Niger (GON) has ended, and the USAID will be closed during FY 1997. The residual program proposed to end in FY 1999 will continue to address the USAID goals of building democracy and protecting human health, working through non-governmental channels.

The Development Challenge.

Even before the "coup d'etat," Niger presented significant development challenges. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world. Its Gross National Product (GNP) has experienced negative growth over most of the past fifteen years, and its per capita GNP was estimated at less than $300 in 1995. Niger's mid-1997 population will approach 10 million; its doubling time is about 20 years. The country's low-resource, drought-prone environment in West Africa's inland Sahel region is seriously threatened, and can no longer support the growing population. Illiteracy--especially among females--and infant, child and maternal mortality are among the world's highest. The education system--primary through university--has not been operational over three of the last four years due to student and teacher strikes and other interruptions. Modern health care services have become even less accessible as a result of public sector dysfunction and drug shortages.

Legacies of tradition and colonial administrative experience--compounded by the overthrow of the fledgling democracy--and the weakness of Niger's tiny formal private sector and civil society severely restrict the country's economic growth and democratization processes. Difficulties in reducing public sector employment and/or collecting taxes have made reaching and maintaining structural adjustment agreements with the International Monetary Fund difficult. Funds needed to service the country's debt are 26% of receipts from the exportation of goods and services. The military coup in January 1996, subsequent fraudulent presidential elections and boycotted legislative elections testify to the threat to democracy in Niger.

Despite the setback of the coup, modest USAID contributions, provided through Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to programs designed to improve the quality of life will help maintain the conditions necessary for the promotion of democracy, good governance, and human rights programs. The democracy and governance part of the portfolio will enable USAID to continue to educate and sensitize the population to the importance of the principles of tolerance and compromise in government, and will increase the citizens' understanding of their rights and obligations. Increased awareness ofwomen's rights, and of their role in a modern society, will similarly provide building blocks for a democratic future. The residual child survival and disaster mitigation activities, which focus on protecting the USAID investment and providing a bridge to alternative funding, are designed to alleviate suffering in one of the poorest environments in the world and, along with our democracy and governance programs, are also aimed at mitigating these causes of civil instability that would further jeopardize a return to a stable democracy.

Other Donors

The major bilateral donors are France, the European Union, Denmark, Germany, Canada, Nigeria and Algeria. The major multilateral donors are the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Program, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the Africa Development Bank and Fund. Most bilateral donors suspended their assistance programs following the January 1996 coup. France and the European Union have resumed their full program; other bilateral donors have resumed only humanitarian assistance.

FY 1998 Program

FY 1998 will mark the final year of USAID country program funding in Niger. All of the assistance, now to be ended permanently, is structured to ensure that the value of assistance already provided will be maximally effective and USAID activities ended in an orderly manner.

The revised U.S. development strategy for Niger currently focuses on helping achieve the goals of (1) improving maternal and child health, mitigation of the effects of disease and drought, HIV/AIDS control practices and (2) promoting democracy. Most of the FY 1998 financing is dedicated to child survival. Activities will be carried out by NGOs and no funds will go to the GON.

Agency Goal: Stabilizing World Population Growth and Protecting Human Health.

Of the $2.5 million funding requested for population and health activities, 100% of that amount is expected to be used for child survival.

With a high birth rate, low agricultural production and per capita income, and malnutrition from frequent droughts and food deficits, Niger is one of the few countries in the world, during peacetime, not to have experienced improvement in basic health indicators over the past two decades. Infant and child mortality indicators are the highest recorded by international demographic and health surveys. One-third of children die before age five, with an unusually high percentage dying after infancy. The underlying reasons are high fertility rates and complications to pregnancy and birth, poor nutrition, primitive sanitation, and lack of access to medical treatment due to low household income and absence of community organizations to develop and implement health measures. Improved child survival is an objective in its own right and also an essential measure to eventually encourage lower rates of conception. In addition to their impact on child survival, episodic severe droughts and highly uneven rain distribution over time and space engender chronic food insecurities, a cycle of poverty, and economic stagnation.

Special Closeout Objective 1: Increased use of maternal/child health services and child survival, disaster mitigation and HIV/AIDS control practices

Agency Goal: Building Democracy

The United States is committed to helping Nigeriens build a democratic governmental framework which provides the freedom and flexibility to undertake economic and social initiatives which will facilitate the country's economic growth. USAID's other closeout objective includes a democratic governancecomponent and is geared toward achievement of results that are essentially and explicitly related to building democracy.

Over the past two years, USAID has increased its assistance for democratic governance. Activities were conducted primarily through Nigerien non-governmental organizations, and were focused on training and the dissemination of information on democracy and the rule of law. A central effort was support to a network of village-based paralegals whose work improved the quality of local administration of law. These efforts played an important part in the remarkable growth of Nigerien private voluntary organizations beyond the capital city. A new closeout objective places emphasis on increasing public understanding of and participation in political and legal processes, as well as increasing the capacity of local civil society groups to play an active role in these processes.

Special Closeout Objective 2: Strengthened civil society supporting a return to democratic governance.

NIGER
FY 1998 PROGRAM SUMMARY

	Encouraging Economic Growth	Stabilizing Population Growth and Protecting Human Health	Protecting the Environment	Building Democracy	Providing Humanitarian Assistance	Totals
USAID Strategic Objective
1. Increased use of child survival, disaster mitigation and HIV/AIDS control practices Dev. Fund for Africa	---	2,500,000	---	---	---	2,500,000
2. Strengthened civil society supporting a return to democratic governance. Dev. Fund for Africa	---	---	---	1,000,000	---	1,000,000
TOTAL	---	2,500,000	---	1,000,000	---	3,500,000

USAID Mission Director: James M. Anderson

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ACTIVITY DATA SHEET

PROGRAM: NIGER

TITLE AND NUMBER: Increase Use of Family Planning, Child Health, Disaster Mitigation and HIV/AIDS Control Service, 683-S001

STATUS: Continuing

PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998 $2,500,000 DFA

INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1995; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 1998

Purpose: To increase the use of maternal/child health and related disaster mitigation activities.

Background: Niger has some of Africa's worst health indicators in the areas of maternal and child mortality, the rate of childhood immunization, and maternal tetanus vaccination. Constraints to progress include a delivery system primarily restricted to urban areas due to a lack of financial and human resource capacity. There is also poor coordination of services within the public sector and between the public and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) sector. Extremely low levels of female literacy, rapid population growth, and a small formal private sector impose formidable constraints on health care service demand and supply.

USAID Role and Achievements to Date: Through January 1996, USAID employed an integrated approach including working with NGOs and the Government of Niger (GON) to change policies, improving GON capacity to deliver family planning services, procuring and distributing contraceptives, providing technical assistance in health and population policy development and demographic data collection and use, assisting in the marketing of condoms, and improving the quality of maternal/child health services, and medical and nurse training. Largely as a result of USAID's efforts the following results have been achieved: a) contraceptives are now legal and available in all of Niger's 44 districts, b) the national hospitals are in the process of being privatized, c) the Ministry of Health has better control of its financial affairs, d) the private sector is beginning to develop, and e) USAID-supported social marketing programs are now providing condoms throughout Niger.

Following the coup, USAID terminated nearly all its population and health activities. The few activities remaining will be entirely managed by private voluntary/non-governmental organizations and will be specifically targeted on maternal and child health, control of epidemics, and mitigation of food shortages. There will be no direct assistance to the Government of Niger.

Description: USAID's main objectives in this sector are to improve maternal child health services in the private sector nationwide; improve capacities to predict and respond to food security and health-related disasters; and expand immunization activities.

Host Country and Other Donors: The U.S. was, but is no longer, the major donor in the health arena. UNICEF and the World Bank fund the Expanded Program of Immunization with USAID support. The United Nations Fund for Population Activities and the World Bank finance population programs, while France and the European Union's Fund for Development finance important health facilities. A group of donors, including USAID, support the national campaign against HIV/AIDS.

Beneficiaries: Children under 15 years of age and women of reproductive age, approximately 6.75 million people, and 75% of Niger's population. USAID/Niger's program targets about 20% of this population in its child and maternal health program.

Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: USAID will implement these activities through centrally funded projects with U.S. NGOs and PVOs who have demonstrated sound program and activity management abilities and, a capability to achieve results in Niger.

Major Results Indicators 

Revisions in anticipated results will be made following approval of the programmatic closeout plan, in
close coordination with strategic partners, and the U.S. Embassy in Niger.

                                              Baseline          Target

Measles immunization coverage in selected   19.0%/20.4%      25% (1997)
districts                         (1990/1992)

Child malnutrition rates in selected districts     16% (1992)1          20% (1997)

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ACTIVITY DATA SHEET

PROGRAM: NIGER

TITLE & NUMBER: Strengthened Civil Society Supporting a Return to Democratic Governance,

683-S002

STATUS: Continuing

PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998 $1,000,000 DFA

INITIAL OBLIGATION: F Y 1996; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 1998

Purpose: Strengthening civil society in support of an early return to democracy.

Background: Niger's first foray into democratic government was set back by the military coup in January 1996 and the failed elections the following July. These events triggered the imposition of U.S. Public Law, Section 508 of the Foreign Assistance Act, as Amended, and the policy decision to terminate bilateral assistance to the Government of Niger, and the closure of the USAID.

USAID Role and Achievements to Date: Despite setbacks at the national level significant progress has been made to date in instilling democratic principles and respect for human rights in the population in general. The Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) community has become particularly dynamic and is playing an expanding role in social, economic and political life to the benefit of civil society. USAID support for decentralized credit activities and community based organizations in the area of natural resources protection has been the catalyst for the burgeoning NGO movement.

Description: It is in the U.S. national interest that democracy be restored in Niger and that Niger once again become a viable partner for social progress and economic growth, and contribute to regional stability. USAID is interested in maintaining an environment in which a policy dialogue with the political class can continue. Specifically, the U.S. has a vested interest in the maintenance of regional peace and stability by supporting the 1995 Government of Niger-Tuareg peace accords; by creating economic and social conditions which encourage democracy and discourage Islamic extremism; and by mitigating the effects of epidemics and famine which destabilize the region.

Because of their impact, all of USAID's residual activities in Niger become instruments to achieve democracy and governance objectives. USAID/Niger's main goal is to educate the public on key democracy and human rights principles, laws and regulations. USAID's modest contributions to programs designed to improve the quality of life will help maintain conditions necessary for the promotion of democracy, good governance and human rights programs. The Democracy and Human Rights and Women in Politics (WIP) programs will enable USAID to educate and sensitize the population to the importance of the principles of tolerance and compromise, and will increase understanding of the rights and obligations of every citizen. From the idea that individuals through their own efforts are responsible for and can improve their lot in life, it is only a short step to the idea that individuals have the right to express their views on political, economic, and social issues--the fundamental principles of a democratic society.

USAID will continue to support specific democracy and governance activities with:

1. 116(e) Democracy and Human Rights (DHR) Fund: It is a United States policy goal to strengthen democratic governance. While DHR-funded activities do not automatically lead to democratic governance and a reduction of human rights abuses, these activities do educate the public on key democracy and human rights principles, laws and regulations.

2. Ambassador's Self-Help Program: These small community projects benefit the rural population of Niger, some of the poorest in the world. Working in conjunction with village or rural associations, these projects are often geared toward improving the environment, education and health, or toward microeconomic development.

3. Women in Politics Extension: In addition to strengthening democratic governance, this activity will develop Nigerien women's participation in governance at the national and local level. The WIP is a one-year activity to be managed by the U.S. Embassy.

Host Country and Other Donors: Few other donors have the capacity to play the role that the U.S. can in democracy and governance activities. Host country NGOs and Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs) can and will play an increasing role in the preservation and expansion of democratic principles.

Beneficiaries: The citizens of Niger.

Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: Nigerien PVO/NGOs, including such groups as the Nigerien Association for the Defense of Human Rights, the Association of Women Jurists, the Association for Study and Research on Democracy and Economic and Social Development, and the Association of Radio Clubs of Niger.

Major Results Indicators:                                   Baseline (Year)     Target (Year)

Strengthen democracy and human rights associations                 2 (96)           12  (98)

Train community-based outreach oriented organizations              0 (96)           100 (98)
working in health, natural resource management and
microenterprise in democratic principles and election
procedures

Print democracy and civic education manuals for use in        11,000 (96)        31,000 (98)
schools

Print legal and regulatory texts for use by magistrates,       7,000 (96)        17,000 (98)
judges, lawyers and human rights activists

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