Our plan in Niger

Plan is working at the grassroots level in Niger to empower communities to bring real and lasting change, so that children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Plan began working in Niger in 1994 and currently has programs in more than 50 communities throughout the country which aim to address the following issues affecting children:

• Lack of access to safe and secure water
• Poor access to health care services
• Poor access to education and training services

Plan’s programs and strategies to address these issues include:

Health

Plan Niger works to provide secure and safe water sources, increase awareness about hygiene and sanitation.  Plan also assists development of health care services by building infrastructure, training health care professionals and providing medicine and disease prevention equipment such as mosquito nets.

Education

Niger faces high illiteracy rates and poor infrastructure of educational and training services.  Plan works to improve access to schooling by constructing buildings, providing books and resources, training teachers and encouraging school enrolment.  Plan Niger has assisted the establishment of a second-chance school system, consisting of a four year vocational training program, for students who have previously dropped out.  Plan also promotes child participation in decision making processes and helps to develop economic security for women so they can provide ongoing assistance for their child’s school needs.

Country Facts

Country	Niger	Australia
Flag
Population	13.5 Million	21 Million
Language	French (official), Hausa and Djerma.	English
Capital	Niamey	Canberra
GDP per capita (USD/year)	371	$37,300
Life expectancy	44.6	81.5
Access to safe drinking water	46%	100%
Literacy	28.7%	100%
Source:	United Nations: Millennium Development Goals Report 2006