Integrated Company Report 2017
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FLOWS OF PEOPLE ALONG THE MIGRATION ROUTES ARE PLACING AN ENORMOUS STRAIN ON COMMUNITIES. IN 20 PROJECTS, GIZ EXPERTS ARE ASSISTING PARTICULARLY AFFECTED REGIONS, FOR EXAMPLE IN NIGER. BASIC ESSENTIALS – SUCH AS WATER, FOOD, HEALTH CENTRES AND SANITATION FACILITIES – ARE MOSTLY LACKING.

Niger is a transit country. Every year, tens of thousands of people pass through here on the way to North Africa or Europe. Many Nigeriens, too, hope to earn money abroad and generate sufficient income to live on, mainly in neighbouring countries in the region. Almost half of the population of Niger lives below the poverty line.

ENORMOUS STRAIN ON COMMUNITIES ALONG THE TRANSIT ROUTES

These large-scale flows of people to, through and away from the towns and villages along the migration routes are an enormous strain on the communities there: they need more water and food, larger health centres and maternity wards, and new schools and sanitation facilities. Social cohesion is also under threat. How, though, can demand on the ground be accurately assessed? On behalf of BMZ and cofinanced by the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), GIZ experts are now assisting affected communes and regions in their efforts to expand basic services to match needs.

As part of this process, 17 communes and three regions have set up local advisory committees. GIZ is helping their 200 or so members – who include mayors, councillors and representatives of local authorities, central government and civil society – to gather and evaluate information about the current situation and to draw up appropriate development measures. The communes have already selected around 20 projects, such as the building of health centres, classrooms, wells and latrines, which are now being implemented with GIZ support. This process encourages dialogue between the government and communes so that local experience can be incorporated into national policy.