OUR IMPACTFUL PROJECTS TO IMPROVE NUTRITION

Niger

Sustaining bio-fortified and climate-resilient agriculture to serve women in remote areas

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WHY NIGER?

  • 1 in 2 children under the age of five suffer from chronic malnutrition
  • 90% do not eat a diet that is sufficiently diverse to meet minimum nutrient needs
  • 43% of child deaths in Niger are linked to malnutrition, and the unprecedented impacts of COVID-19 will place even more children at risk as parents have less money to afford nutritious foods

Project Partners

GOAL Global : Project lead

Reaching the Last Mile : Financial Partner

SDGs supported by the project

Learn more about the project

Project factsheet .pdf

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HOW WE DO IT

With women at the center of the approach, the project supports local businesses to provide small-holder women farmers with access to biofortified seeds.

The project will reach 18,656 people directly and 264,706 people indirectly, including 144,515 women and girls.

IT MAY SEEM COMPLICATED, BUT THE CONCEPT IS SIMPLE:

Biofortified seeds are more nutrient-dense than regular ones. Essential micronutrients, such as zinc and iron, are bred into biofortified seeds and produce iron-biofortified or zinc-biofortified beans, vegetables and other crops. Zinc and iron are key elements for proper cognitive development, physical growth and a strong immune system.

LOCAL & INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

Empowering women to sustainably improve nutrition shouldn't end when a UNITLIFE project is completed. Therefore, we are partnering with local businesses so they can continuously deliver nutritious solutions to those in need.

PROJECT PROGRESS

Where is our project?

Niger, Zinder region (20 villages)

Project gallery
Result 1. April 2021: Local community leaders driving the project

The community is driving this project: 30 identified community leaders (50% of men and women) from 15 villages understand the challenges of their communities and relay the project’s information to them.

Result 2.A. May 2021: Climate-resilient methods in drought conditions

Women dug "zai holes" for plants & trees to grow in previously dry & cracked soil.

Result 2.C. “Smart” seeds are used for improved yields, nutrition and soil health

The seeds that were used (millet, beans, peanuts) are “biofortified” – they were cross-bred to get more nutritious & climate-resilient varieties. They are sold to farmers at subsidized prices at 32 points of sale.

Result 2.B. Sep 2021: Climate-resilient methods are reflected in the results

Here is the progress and difference between fields which used zai-hole techniques and those that didn't! Difference is clear.

Result 3.A. Jan-Feb 2021: Germination tests of seeds

Germination tests were carried out on the distributed vegetable seeds. The germination rate for all species (pepper, onion, carrots, watermelon, cabbage, lettuce) is above 85% – seeds are in good sanitary condition!

Result 3.B. Sep 2021: Families now have access to higher nutritious vegetables!

Abdou Liman, a local farmer, has already a garden full of vegetables. He said: “Our neighbours have copied my family and are now going to purchase the same seeds!”

Result 4. Sep 2021: women now can take micro loans to carry out empowering activities.

2 groups were set up with a savings total of 102K CFA = 180 USD. Loans are returned after 4 weeks with an interest of 50 CFA which is put back in the savings account for the next loans.

Result 5. 3-6 Jun 2021: Women empowered through Habanaye

Here is a woman in Kwana Bawada village in Zinder, Niger with her goats. GOAL distributed 784 goats to women in 14 villages. The women keep the goats until they give birth and then transmit them to another group of women. Goat milk is rich in calcium!

Result 6: Off-soil farming technique for reduced water use, improved yields and nutrition

Vegetables grown on top/in holes cut into the sides of a farming bag, maximizing space and requiring less water for cultivation. Soil is mixed with decomposed organic manure which fertilizes the soil, improving nutrient content & yields.

Result 7 : Improved cooking stove to save resources, money, time

Compared with traditional open fire cooking, these stoves require less cooking time, less firewood (time saved collecting wood and money saved buying it), release less toxic smoke (reducing smoke-related illnesses, e.g. pneumonia).

“This project will reach thousands of people with grains and vegetables that are biofortified, a cost-effective method to provide last mile farmers with essential nutrients missing from their diets without changing their eating habits. Women will be at the center of the action, as they are the ones growing food, cooking the meals, and feeding their families and communities.”

Assia Sidibe, Programme Manager of UNITLIFE

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Project Details
Project Statistic (e.g. received food) :

Partner: GOAL Global

Project Statistic Unit (e.g. 5.780) :
Project Area (e.g. Africa) :

Africa