Child Labor in Niger: A Hidden Crisis in West Africa

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by Dionne Roberts

Photo by: Kate Cummings: Flickr.com

Niger is considered the world’s youngest country, with 58 percent of its population under 18. With a population of 21.5 million people, nearly half of all Nigeriens live below the poverty level, which means the future prospects of many children are dim. (1) Niger is one of the countries hardest hit by the Sahel food crisis, which has been driven by persistent drought, decimated crop yields, and soaring food prices. (2) Due to extreme poverty, particularly in rural parts of Niger, families often have no choice but to make their children work. 

In 2025, The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 4.3 million people faced a food crisis in Niger, worsened by severe climate change, manifested by cycles of extreme drought and damaging floods. (3)  When food is scarce, Nigerien children like 12-year-old Oumar Soumana are forced to drop out of school and search for work to support their families. “It is a painful job for me,” says Oumar. “I spend the whole day walking and do not really rest because I have to sell and bring the money back.” (2) This is a story found all through Niger’s rural villages, as children are forced to leave their homes and schools to earn money.

Some Key Insights into Children’s Work and Education

Usually, work is found in the agricultural and mining sectors, both of which are very dangerous and subject to miserable conditions. These children face long working hours, little food, low wages, and minimal education. (4)

ChildrenAgePercent and Population
Working5 to 1442.9% (2,516,191)
Hazardous Work by Children15 to 17Unavailable
Attending School7 to 1448%
Combining School and Work7 to 1422.1%

Overview of Children’s Work by Sector and Activity (5)

  • AGRICULTURE: Farming, herding, caring for livestock and fishing.
  • INDUSTRIAL: Mining, construction, tanneries, slaughterhouses and metal work.
  • SERVICES: Domestic and street work, begging, scavenging and illicit activities.

Longer walks to water sources often mean passing through isolated terrain, sometimes before dawn or after dark. For women and girls, this increases the risk of physical attack and gender-based violence. Research from multiple sub-Saharan African countries has consistently found that women and girls face higher safety risks when water sources are distant. This is a reality that communities and governments rarely name out loud, but one that women experience every single day.

Efforts to Address Child Labor

UNICEF reported that “On November 20th 1989, world leaders made a historic commitment to the world’s children by adopting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – an international agreement that has helped transform children’s lives around the world.

Niger ratified the Convention in 1990 and has made significant progress in advancing children’s and women’s rights. Children are less likely to die from preventable diseases than in the past and being able to attend school is now a reality for many more children.” (6)

Article 32 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states: 

“Parties recognize the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s education or to be harmful to the child’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development.” (7)

While drought and poverty are complex global challenges, they are increasingly addressed through targeted UN initiatives and international aid organizations including Wells Bring Hope.

Photo by: Carsten ten Brink. Flikr.com

Wells Bring Hope partners with World Vision to drill solar-powered, mechanized wells, build water systems and latrines, and promote hygiene and sanitation education. Additionally, drip farming is taught, showing villagers how to use grey water to grow vegetable gardens that provide essential new nutrition in times of drought. 

In every village where Wells Bring Hope drills, villagers are taught how to use this greywater to nurture their gardens using the technique of drip water irrigation. The greywater, which is collected from hand washing stations, dishwashing, and other household washing, is essential in drought-ridden West Africa, because it can improve the yield from gardens. The extra food helps address hunger in rural communities and may help reduce the need to send children out to work. 

When clean water is unavailable at home, children, especially girls, sacrifice school time to spend hours walking long distances to obtain water that is often contaminated. (8) With the wells we drill, girls no longer walk 4-6 miles a day for water. This frees them to go to school. It also frees their mothers to pursue income-generating work that greatly improves the family’s financial stability.

Providing access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in schools lowers school absenteeism among girls and provides a safe and effective learning environment. Girls who complete their education are less likely to marry and start a family young. They can earn higher incomes and contribute to the local economy, which in turn begins to interrupt the cycle of poverty that can lead to child labor.

Children at the well. Source: WBH

With education, women often gain a seat at the table so they can participate in decisions that affect their lives. Educated girls and women can act as role models for their daughters and other young girls in the community and encourage them to continue breaking the cycle of poverty. 

Much more is needed to stop the burden of child labor in Niger and other regions of West Africa. Actions by Wells Bring Hope, along with legal enforcement, strict government policies, and social programs, can close the gaps in eradicating the worst forms of child labor in Niger.

Sources

  1. https://www.unicef.org/niger/children-niger
  2. https://stopchildlabor.org/unicef-in-niger-children-are-forced-to-drop-out-of-school-to-support-their-families/
  3. https://www.oxfamamerica.org/explore/emergencies/west-africa-hunger-crisis-sahel-drought/
  4. https://www.humanium.org/en/niger/
  5. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/niger
  6. https://www.unicef.org/niger/stories/renewed-commitment-implementing-child-rights
  7. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child
  8. https://water.org/solutions/

Why the Climate Crisis Lands Most Heavily on Women and Girls

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by Ekemini Ekpo

Woman walking with water. Source: WBH

In many rural communities in Niger and Mali, water collection is understood to be the work of women and girls. It is a responsibility that structures every other part of a woman or girl’s day. When water is close and reliable, that responsibility takes one or two hours. When water sources dry up, move further away, or become seasonal, that same responsibility can consume four to eight hours of every single day.

When a girl spends four hours collecting water, she is not in school. When a woman spends six hours walking to a water source and back, she is not farming, not earning, not resting, not caring for her children the way she wants to.

The education cost no one talks about enough

UNESCO estimates that women and girls collectively spend approximately 200 million hours per day collecting water globally. For girls specifically, this is one of the leading reasons for school dropout and poor attendance in rural areas across Africa and Asia. Girls who miss school to collect water fall behind academically, are more vulnerable to early marriage, and have fewer economic options as adults.

A study conducted across rural communities in Tanzania found that when a clean water source was installed within 30 minutes of a community, girls’ school attendance increased by up to 15 percent within one school year. Water access is a girls’ education issue. Once Wells Bring Hope drills a well in a rural community, girls are able to get an education, and women have their time freed to pursue income-generating work, which often includes starting a business.

Physical safety on the water collection journey

Longer walks to water sources often mean passing through isolated terrain, sometimes before dawn or after dark. For women and girls, this increases the risk of physical attack and gender-based violence. Research from multiple sub-Saharan African countries has consistently found that women and girls face higher safety risks when water sources are distant. This is a reality that communities and governments rarely name out loud, but one that women experience every single day.

3 women walking to get water. Source: WBH

The health burden of contaminated water on women’s bodies

Women carry a disproportionate share of the health burden from unsafe water. Diarrhea caused by contaminated water kills approximately 485,000 people annually, according to the World Health Organization. In rural settings, women who are responsible for preparing food and caring for sick family members are the most exposed. Pregnant women who drink contaminated water face higher risks of complications. Women with compromised immunity from frequent illness are less able to work, produce food, or generate income.

Wells Bring Hope’s large-scale water project is specially designed to meet the needs of rural health clinics. The solar-powered system draws clean water from deep underground and provides taps directly in treatment and delivery rooms, giving clinic staff an unlimited supply of safe water. Handwashing stations and a waste disposal system dramatically improve hygiene and health outcomes meaning women can give birth in clean, safe conditions.

Forage de Talle. Source: WBH

When we drill a well in Niger or Mali, the impact on women and girls is immediate and lasting. Girls spend less time walking for water and more time in school, opening doors to education and economic independence.

Women travel shorter, safer distances, reducing their daily exposure to physical risk. And rural health clinics gain access to clean water that makes safe deliveries and proper hygiene possible. Three burdens: lost time, physical danger, and preventable illness are lifted by one drilled well.

Sources

Collecting water is often a colossal waste of time for women and girls: UNICEF

Provide Clean Drinking Water for School Children in Tanzania

WHO: Diarrhoeal disease

Dogon Art of Mali: History, Symbolism and Cultural Importance

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by Dionne Roberts

Collection ethnographique de José de Guimarães. Source: Wikimedia Commons

As an undergraduate student at a small liberal arts college in the early 1990’s, I had the good fortune to sign up for an introductory prerequisite course in Art History. I have to admit, I was an excellent student, and it was obvious the professor was impressed by my photographic memory and attention to detail. I could easily identify all the classical European art movements such as Byzantine, Baroque, Renaissance, and Impressionism to name a few.

Halfway through the course the professor introduced a new subject: The art of Africa, Oceana and the Americas. I was absolutely enthralled and mesmerized. It was entirely different from the weeks of studying Western art and I was immediately drawn to the symbolism and visual language of the Dogon Art of Mali.

What is Dogon Art?

Dogon art goes back several centuries, originating in Mali in the region known as the Bandiagara Cliffs. It is an area where the Dogon tribe found safety and the ability to develop their unique artistry. They are also known for their knowledge of astronomy, architecture and sculpture, which is demonstrated in their artwork.

Characteristics of Dogon Art

Dogon Art is an abstract and symbolic style characterized by human and animal forms that showcase a sense of mystery and spirituality. Dogon art is created mainly with the use of wood, stone and bronze materials. 

  • Dogon Masks usually made of wood are used in sacred and ritualistic ceremonies with each mask serving a unique purpose. It is believed to assist in communication with the ancestral spirit world.
  • Dogon Sculpture often represents human and animal figures. An example is a sculpture of a man holding a snake which could indicate knowledge and wisdom.

Masque Dogon and John Odale. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Meaning and Symbolism

Dogon art is deeply rooted in Malian culture and embodies their fundamental beliefs. The imagery used in Dogon sculptures and masks is rooted in their religious and spiritual traditions. Every shape, symbol and design serves a specific function and meaning. The traditional religion of the Dogon is animist which means they practice nature-based spiritualism and ancestor worship.

An example of the animist belief system is the crocodile that is part of the Dogon origin story.  Their belief is that they arrived on Earth from the star Sirius in a crocodile.

The Dogon people and their culture have remained one of the most unspoiled and authentic on the African continent due to their isolation. This seclusion allowed them to resist conquest first by Muslims and then French invaders. 

The rich culture of the Dogon of Mali has influenced Western modernism and been a lifelong source of inspiration for avant-garde artists and post-impressionist painters. This brings me back to my art history class during my undergraduate studies over 30 years ago. I never imagined I would be a volunteer with an incredible organization like Wells Bring Hope writing a blog post about a small African tribe that lives on in my heart, mind and spirit.

Sources

National Museum of African Art – Visionary Viewpoints on Africa’s Arts: Visionary Artists | National Museum of African Art

African Carts Gallery – https://www.african-arts-gallery.com/african-art/ethnie-Dogon

How Dogon Art Inspired Western Artists – https://www.barnebys.com/blog/how-dogon-art-inspired-western-artists

Women as Keepers of Culture

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by Manvitha Prasad Kathula

When people think about West African history, they often picture powerful rulers, large empires, and busy trade routes. But another important part of the story is the role women have played in keeping communities and traditions alive. For centuries, women have passed down knowledge, taught important skills, and helped families adapt to changing conditions. From the Mali Empire to modern-day Niger, their contributions have helped preserve culture and strengthen communities.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

One example comes from the Mali Empire, one of the most influential kingdoms in West African history. Women known as jelimusow, or female griots, were responsible for preserving and sharing knowledge within their communities. While male griots often focused on telling stories about rulers and major historical events, female griots played important roles in ceremonies, sang praise songs, helped settle disputes, and remembered the histories of families. Their knowledge was usually taught from one generation of women to the next, allowing traditions to continue over time. The presence of female griots shows that women held respected positions in many areas of Mande society.

Women have also helped preserve culture through traditional arts and crafts. In Mali, Bambara women are known for creating bogolanfini, often called mud cloth. Using natural materials such as mud and plant-based dyes, they create fabrics covered with meaningful patterns and symbols. These designs can reflect cultural beliefs, local traditions, and community values. By teaching these techniques to younger generations, women help keep both artistic skills and cultural knowledge alive. Similar traditions exist across Africa, where women pass down weaving, pottery, beadwork, and dyeing techniques within their families and communities.

Bogolan Mali mud cloth. Source: Wikimedia Commons

The important role of women continues today among the Tuareg and Wodaabe peoples of the Sahel region. In many Tuareg communities, family identity is traditionally connected to the mother’s side of the family. Since men may spend long periods traveling with livestock or working away from home, women often take responsibility for managing households and caring for family members. They help organize daily life, raise children, maintain relationships between relatives, and pass cultural traditions on to younger generations. Their work is essential to the stability of their communities.

In Niger, women face additional challenges because of poverty, climate change, and limited economic opportunities. As environmental conditions become more difficult and jobs remain scarce, many men leave their villages to look for work elsewhere. This often leaves women responsible for caring for their families and managing resources during long periods the men of the family are away. In many cases, they also play a major role in supporting local economies.

To deal with these challenges, many women have joined cooperatives and community groups. These organizations allow women to work together, earn income, improve food security, and support one another. They provide practical solutions to everyday problems while helping communities remain strong during difficult times. Through these groups, women continue their long tradition of leadership and community involvement.

1. Bambara_Girl. 2. Tuareg woman from Mali. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Organizations such as Wells Bring Hope have also worked to improve daily life for women in Niger by helping communities gain access to safe water sources. When women and girls no longer need to spend hours collecting water, they have more time for school, work, and other activities. Access to clean water can improve health, increase educational opportunities, and create new ways for women to earn income and support their families, especially important when communities are poor and men are gone for long periods.

Looking across West African history, a clear pattern emerges. Women have played an important role in preserving traditions while helping communities adapt to change. Whether sharing stories as female griots, teaching traditional crafts, managing households, or leading community groups, they have helped pass knowledge and values from one generation to the next. Their contributions show that history is shaped not only by rulers and major events but also by the everyday efforts of people who keep communities connected and traditions alive.

Sources

https://redshoemovement.com/wellbeing-for-women-and-the-importance-of-maintaining-the-cultural-heritage-of-nigerien-nomads/

https://medium.com/islamic-reunion-of-thoughts-irot/mali-empires-women-female-power-and-the-islamic-governance-of-sub-saharan-africa-13th-14th-8920bc3f025c

https://www.teniandtayo.com/post/celebrating-the-matriarchs-the-role-of-women-in-african-craft-traditions?srsltid=AfmBOopKKjzz8lZysfuyAFRAcL72k2Y_mMC4S6D1Bjtw53TfZwNxUDuv

https://www.wfp.org/stories/nigers-men-emigrate-women-work-outwit-changing-climate

How Climate Change Is Reshaping Water Access in Rural Areas of Niger and Mali

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Source: WBH

Every morning, before the sun fully rises, millions of women and girls pick up a jerrycan and walk. Some walk two miles. Some walk five. Some walk farther still. Not for exercise. Not by choice. But because the nearest water source: a stream, a borehole, a communal tap is the only option they have. And increasingly, because of climate change, even that source is drying up, flooding over, or becoming too unsafe to drink.

People living in rural areas of Niger and Mali have noticed that the rains come later than they used to, that the river’s flow dwindles each dry season, and that shallow boreholes sometimes run out in March instead of June. What they are experiencing is one of the most urgent and underdiscussed consequences of climate change: the reshaping of water access in rural areas, and the way it falls hardest on women, girls, and young children.

Understanding How Climate Change Is Reshaping Water Access

Climate change does not affect everyone the same way. In cities, governments invest in water infrastructure, storage tanks, and backup systems. In rural areas, communities often depend on rainfall, natural rivers, underground aquifers, and boreholes that were dug based on rainfall patterns that no longer hold.

Rainfall Is Becoming Unpredictable and Uneven

Across sub-Saharan Africa, annual rainfall totals have not necessarily dropped dramatically, but the pattern has shifted. Rains arrive late, stop suddenly, and become more intense when they do fall. This creates two problems at once: drought in the dry months because water was not stored properly, and flooding in the wet months that contaminates the little water that is available.

The world is not simply getting drier. It is getting less predictable, and unpredictability is more dangerous for rural communities than drought alone.

Groundwater Is Being Depleted Faster Than It Is Replenished

According to the United Nations, in 2022, 2.2 billion people worldwide lack access to safely managed drinking water.

In rural areas, the majority of households depend on groundwater wells, boreholes, and hand pumps for their daily needs. As droughts become longer and more frequent, communities pump more from these underground reserves than rainfall can replace. The water table drops. Boreholes that once hit water at 20 meters now require drilling to 40 or 60 meters. Communities that cannot afford deeper drilling simply go without.

Surface Water Is Shrinking and Becoming More Contaminated

Rivers, streams, and lakes that rural communities have depended on for generations are visibly shrinking. In Kenya’s Turkana region, Lake Turkana  which supports hundreds of thousands of people has experienced significant fluctuations linked to reduced rainfall. The Niger Basin has been severely affected by recurrent droughts, with flow reductions of up to 40% recorded at monitoring stations along the river and its tributaries, affecting millions across Niger and Mali who depend on it for drinking water and farming.

At the same time, flooding washes animal waste, agricultural chemicals, and human waste into water sources, causing spikes in waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery that kill children under five at terrifying rates.

Seasonal Wells Are Drying Up Earlier Each Year

Communities that once depended on seasonal water points until June or July are finding those sources empty by March or April. This forces longer daily walks during the hottest and driest part of the year exactly when the body needs more water, and exactly when the most dangerous diseases spread.

How Wells Bring Hope Helps

Unlike shallow wells that tap seasonal water sources, Wells Bring Hope drills deep wells that reach underground water reserves that remain available even during the driest months of the year. This approach gives rural communities in Niger and Mali a reliable, year-round source of clean water that seasonal boreholes and surface water cannot provide. When communities have consistent access to clean water, women and girls spend less time walking for water, children are healthier, and families can focus on building their lives rather than constantly searching for adequate supplies of safe water.

Sources

WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme — https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/water-sanitation-and-health/monitoring-and-evidence/wash-monitoring

Niger River flow reduction — https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02626667.2014.916407#d1e203

Photo credit – https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=climate+change+&title=Special%3AMediaSearch

Supporting Mali’s Strides in Sustainable Development

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By Kris Wallace

February 27, 2026 saw Malian authorities announce the signing of another sustainable development agreement, the nation’s second since 2014. This inspiring action is designed to address Mali’s ongoing safe water access, hygiene, and sanitation challenges which are among the most pressing in the world.

Some key details:

  • The 2014 agreement met 70% of its rural water access indicators.
  • 84% of areas previously free of open defecation have maintained this status.
  • This second agreement aims to further improve the general quality of life for the Malian people between now and 2035.
  • Granting more Malians continuous access to clean water is a primary focus.

The agreement will be a collaborative effort between health, energy, and education sectors and other partners. This decision by the Malian government further strengthens Wells Bring Hope’s commitment to the country. Lasting change is always more attainable with the full-throated support of government authorities, and Wells Bring Hope is thrilled that Mali’s leadership is committing to this kind of effort. Shared responsibility is sure to empower this initiative, but it’s still a huge undertaking since Mali’s population is around 25.7 million and quickly rising.

Breaking Down the Numbers

Perhaps the most vital statistics from this latest pact are that 30% of the previous agreement’s rural water access indicators were unmet, alongside 16% of localities failing to remain open-defecation free (ODF).

This means:

Many women and young girls are still forced to gather water from dirty streams. Source: WBH

Those figures show that even with multiple stakeholders dedicated to improving Mali’s prospects, there’s plenty of room for helping hands to keep building on past success.

What Makes Sustainability So Difficult?

Several factors may be hindering long-term water change in Mali. Some of the most impactful are insufficient infrastructure, lack of training and maintenance, and the region’s harsh heat.

Additionally, some of the wells dug by well-meaning but inadequately equipped organizations are too shallow. These efforts aren’t sustainable due to their greater vulnerability to contamination, pollution and drought.

Wells Bring Hope understands the great challenges faced by the Malian government as it strives to create lasting change in the WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene) sector. Another factor that sets Wells Bring Hope apart is the knowledge that sustainable transformation comes not from digging wells, but drilling them.

Wells Bring Hope’s Dedication to Sustainability and Maintenance

Creating lasting, manageable change is what we do. Our heavy duty-drilling rigs access aquifers that are 250-300 feet underground and provide a more sustainable source of high-standard water than wells dug at shallower depths.

No more long, dangerous walks for dirty water! Source: WBH

When drilled and managed responsibly these wells can be safely used for consumption, sanitation, and drip farming. Wells Bring Hope’s program maintains momentum and ensures generational transformation by:

  • Teaching villagers how to build latrines and why using them is vital.
  • Establishing a maintenance fund for every well and a local committee to oversee it.
  • Teaching hygiene practices like handwashing after defecation and washing water vessels, both of which dramatically reduce the chances of infection and illness.
  • Maintaining a regular presence in the villages we work with for 15 years or longer to track progress and ensure the new practices remain in place.

A latrine mold sits ready to make many more Malian communities ODF. Source: WBH

Sustainable Change for Lifetimes to Come

By teaching young girls and boys the importance of maintaining hygiene habits, we’re doing more than building a cleaner present. These children change the future by becoming transformative examples for adults set in the less-sanitary practices of the past.

This type of intergenerational change is perfectly complemented by a collaboration between our partners at World Vision and a very special young girl named Raya from the Sesame Workshop.

It’s great to see things change for the better over time, and it’s wonderful to know that the Malian government and its associates are aiming for the same positive changes over the coming decade. Here’s to Mali’s ongoing empowerment and a water-wealthy world for everyone!

Sources:

  1. APA News (2026, March 3). Mali launches 10-year water and sanitation sustainability pact. https://apanews.net/mali-launches-10-year-water-and-sanitation-sustainability-pact/
  2. Worldometer (accessed 4/20/26). Mali population. https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/mali-population/
  3. Trading Economics (accessed 4/20/26) Mali – Rural Population. https://tradingeconomics.com/mali/rural-population-wb-data.html
  4. World Health Organization (accessed 4/20/26). WASH exposure, defecation: population practising open defecation (%). https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/4823
  5. Wells Bring Hope Team (2026, March 20). WASH-Up Program Turns Children into Change Makers. https://wellsbringhope.org/sesame/

The 2025 Cultural Biennale in Mali

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By Manvitha Kathula

A Historic Return to Timbuktu

In the final weeks of 2025, the historic “City of 333 Saints” reaffirmed its role as the soul of Malian identity. From December 18th to the 28th, Timbuktu hosted the Mali National Cultural and Artistic Biennial for the first time in its history. This landmark festival transformed the ancient desert hub into a vibrant theater of national unity, signaling a defiant return to normalcy after a decade of regional instability.

The festival’s theme, “Culture, the foundation for anchoring the Fourth Republic,” served to reinforce a national focus on cultural revival, and the event served as the centerpiece of the government’s officially designated “Year of Culture.”

Photo credit: Voice of America

A Ceremony Rooted in Tradition

The opening ceremony, led by Prime Minister Gen. Abdoulaye Maïga on behalf of the transitional president, was a powerful showcase of Malian culture and tradition. One of the most moving moments came when 333 dancers took the stage, creating a living tribute to the city’s revered Sufi saints.

The festival brought together participants from all 20 regions of Mali, who competed in five different artistic disciplines. It was not just about performances and competition. It also served as a meaningful way to pass down cultural values from one generation to the next. As Prime Minister Maïga emphasized, the event was more than an arts festival. It was a celebration of memory, identity, and resilience.

A New Generation Takes the Stage

While the biennial paid tribute to the past, its true energy came from a new generation of artists using their voices to inspire change.

Tinazoum Cissé, known as Daïcha, represented the Taoudéni region with a powerful performance of “Ai Ouladna” that had the crowd on its feet. For her, art is more than expression. It is a way to uplift both herself and her community.

Awa Demba Samaké, a medical student from Bamako, spoke about the responsibility artists carry during Mali’s political transition. She highlighted the importance of creating music with positive messages that celebrate the nation and preserve its traditions.

Culture as Economic Growth

The biennial was not only a cultural celebration but also a boost for the local economy. In a striking move, the Flame of Peace monument was transformed into a runway, turning a symbol of reconciliation into a stage for creativity and enterprise.

Designer Boubacar AG Midaye, founder of Mida Style, stood out by bringing together traditional Tuareg designs and fabrics from southern Mali. His approach went beyond fashion. By working with local models and emphasizing craftsmanship from the region, he used the event to help build a stronger identity for “Made in Timbuktu” and show its potential in the wider economy.

A Message to the World

Executing an event of this scale in the north required a massive logistical and security undertaking. However, for Cultural Minister Andogoly Guindo, the success of the festival sends a clear signal to the global community that Timbuktu is open. With the renovation of historic libraries and the inauguration of a new hall honoring the legendary Ali Farka Touré, the city is positioning itself to welcome back international tourism. As the curtains fell on December 28, the biennial proved that Malian culture is not merely a relic of history, but the cornerstone of its future.

Sources:

Timbuktu Hosts Mali’s National Cultural Biennale

https://www.africanews.com/2025/12/25/malis-cultural-and-artistic-biennial-gets-underway-in-timbuktu

Timbuktu Cultural Festival revives the glow of the “Jewel of the Desert”

When the Rains Come: Flooding, Fragility, and Resilience in the Sahel

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by Tina Kusal

Photo Credit: Fula Boy

Every year from June to September, the rainy season comes to Niger and parts of Mali, bringing both hope and danger. Rural communities depend on this rain to grow crops, refill water sources, and support daily life. However, because of climate change, the rain has become heavier and less predictable in recent years, turning what was once a lifeline into a growing threat.

Drought and flooding are more connected than they seem, linked through changes in the water cycle. Prolonged dry conditions harden the soils, making the ground less absorbent. When the rainfall arrives, the water runs off the surface triggering sudden and often intense floods. As temperatures continue to rise, more moisture is pulled into the atmosphere, creating drier lands and increasing the chances of heavier downpours.

This cyclical pattern means the rains that communities in Niger and Mali rely on are becoming more destructive. Floods now happen more often and are more severe, sweeping away homes, polluting water, and ruining farmland. In places where infrastructure is already weak, even one flood can disrupt lives for months. People lose crops, livestock die, and families must rebuild with very little.

Yet the impact of extreme weather in the Sahel goes beyond the physical damage. According to recent analysis by the Institute for Security Studies, long-standing systems that once helped communities manage land and water are under strain. These traditional frameworks relied on cooperation between farmers, herders, and other groups to coexist and navigate scarcity during difficult seasons. Local leaders, such as village chiefs, land authorities, and religious figures played a key role in mediating disputes and regulating access, to help maintain stability.

Photo Credit: Wells Bring Hope

Today, those systems are weakening as a result of the insecurity and violent extremism that dominate the area. Communities are less able to rely on local leadership or cooperation to navigate environmental stress. As one expert notes, when conflict disrupts these networks, it “undermines communities’ capacity to adapt to climate change.”

What results is a dangerous cycle. Flooding increases pressure on both land and water, weakened cooperation makes it harder to respond effectively, and communities become even more vulnerable to the next extreme event.

Still, local resilience persists. Many communities continue to adapt in small but meaningful ways, rebuilding homes on higher ground, adjusting planting cycles, and supporting one another through shared resources when possible.

This resilience is strengthened by the work of Wells Bring Hope in rural Niger and Mali. The drilling of wells provides access to clean water and helps communities better withstand climate stress. In addition, training local residents about as drip irrigation techniques and grey water reuse to support more efficient water use, enables families to continue growing crops during periods of limited rainfall.

Photo Credit: Wells Bring Hope

The solution to flooding in the Sahel involves more than just managing water. Addressing issues centers on strengthening the systems (social, environmental, and local), ensuring communities can withstand the floods. Allowing those systems to hold gives communities a better chance not just to recover, but to endure.

Sources

https://issafrica.org/iss-today/violent-extremism-erodes-local-climate-resilience-in-the-sahel

https://globalclimaterisks.org/insights/blog/africa-flood-drought-2026

https://floodriskamerica.com/blog/why-floods-follow-periods-of-drought/#:~:text=Climate%20change%20intensifies%20the%20interplay,increasing%20the%20risk%20of%20flooding.

The West African Camels: Heroes of the Desert

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The West African Camels: Heroes of the Desert

By: Dionne Roberts

Camels live in the desert regions of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East and are common in rural areas of Niger and Mali. The global camel population sits at around 41 million, with 1.9 million in Niger and 1.3 million in Mali.

There are two main species of camel: the Bactrian camel and the dromedary camel. Although they are now common in West Africa, camels were probably domesticated in the Arabian Peninsula or Somalia 4,000–5,000 years ago. Around 90 percent of camels worldwide are dromedaries, which are also called Arabian camels. All dromedary camels today are domesticated. In contrast, Bactrian camels can be either wild or domesticated.

The Arabian camel is easy to recognize by its long, curved neck, deep narrow chest, and single hump. Its thick lips help it eat tough, thorny plants. Their feet are wide and padded, making it easier for them to walk on sand. They thrive in extreme heat (up to 120°F) by storing energy-rich fat in their humps, rarely sweating, and traveling up to 100 miles without water. This makes them extremely important animals for people who live in desert areas, where water and food can be difficult to find.

These “heroes of the desert,” as they are known, have long been valued as pack and saddle animals, and they are also used for their milk, meat, wool, and hides.

Photo credit: Lindsey Gossage

Camels to Aid in Alleviating Poverty in Niger and Mali

Niger and Mali rely heavily on camels because of their ability to withstand prolonged drought, their high tolerance to dehydration, and their specialized digestive systems, which enable them to tolerate habitats such as shrub and grasslands. Camels may be the most practical livestock to keep, as they can provide a stable source of both food and income for 17 or more years (the median life expectancy for camels is 17.8 years).

Traditionally, they have been used for drawing water from wells, transportation, and carrying loads. With new technology, they can also be used to plow through arid soil and uncover the nutrient-rich layers beneath, giving farmers a new, cost-effective way to cultivate their land.  

Camels are kept for milk production in Africa and Asia. In sub-Saharan Africa, camels make up about 8 percent of total milk production. Camel milk is slightly saltier than cow milk and has about eight times more vitamin C than cow milk. It offers an alternative source of this essential nutrient for people living in arid and semi-arid areas who cannot easily access vitamin C from fruits and vegetables.

Besides milk and meat, camels provide several products with economic value:

  • Wool: Camel wool is used to produce high-quality textiles, such as rugs, clothing, and blankets.
  • Hides: Camel leather is durable and used in making shoes, bags, and other products.
  • Manure: Apart from its use as a fertilizer, camel dung can be used as a biofuel for cooking and heating in rural areas.
  • Tourism: In desert regions, camel safaris and rides have become popular attractions, drawing tourists and generating income for local communities.

International Year of Camelids

Camels belong to a family of even-toed ungulate mammals known as camelids that includes llamas, alpacas, and vicunas. In 2024, the UN marked the International Year of Camelids to highlight their vital role in supporting millions of people living in harsh environments across more than 90 countries. The International Year of Camelids 2024 aimed to raise awareness of camels’ untapped potential and urged increased investment, research, capacity development, and innovative practices.

Camels play a vital role in fighting hunger, eradicating extreme poverty, and empowering women. Women are often the first to spot disease symptoms like a sudden drop in milk production or illness in calves. With training, many women have become effective community animal health workers. They care for animals, process and sell camel products, and even take part in cross-border trade.

From providing milk, meat, and pelts for communities to transporting products and people, and producing organic fertilizer, camels thrive where other livestock species struggle.

Photo credit: ILRI/Stevie Mann

In Niger and Mali, these “heroes of the desert” can help advance sustainable agriculture and improve lives through their contribution to livelihoods, food security, and nutrition.

Sources:

Winning the Water Wars

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By Kris Wallace

If you’re unfamiliar with the term “hydropolitics,” you’ll soon be hearing more about it. It’s essentially the discourse that decides where water stays, where it goes, and ultimately who has access to it.

This discussion is becoming crucial as water sources across the globe—particularly those in developing nations—become increasingly vulnerable to exploitation and attack.

Our work in bringing water sovereignty to rural villages in Mali and Niger takes place in two regions where the worst aspects of hydropolitics are right next door. Let’s spotlight the issue, and see how Wells Bring Hope is sure to become an even more impactful ally in the wider water effort.

Hydropolitics at a Glance

One of European influence’s many African legacies is the poor planning of equitable access to water basins. This has led to frequent intertribal conflict and the necessity for treaties across tribal boundaries where peaceful and universal access to water should exist.

Mali and Niger are among the many African nations which today are still negatively impacted by that legacy. They are also hugely dependent on the Niger River basin, the upper system of which lies in Sierra Leone with its middle system receiving six tributaries from Burkina Faso.

In recent years Burkina Faso has seen the destruction of key water facilities, the targeting of water trucks and water routes by unidentified gunmen and assailants, with water sources deliberately contaminated. And since Burkina Faso borders both Niger and Mali, the worst of the water wars are worryingly close while water can be painfully far away.

Three women on the long trek to collect water. Source: WBH

The tactics of these water wars are indicative of a wider trend in African conflicts. While it’s great to hear the African Union make water management a key focus of their 2026 summit, there’s still a lot of work to do.

Water Scarcity is a Perennial Struggle

Access to safe water has always been profoundly difficult in many African regions, with droughts and climate change only exacerbating manmade problems. Here’s a snapshot of the situation in Mali and Niger:

  • 61% of rural Nigerien villagers are without safe water.
  • 63% of rural Malian households have no access to basic sanitation.
  • Vulnerable women and young girls walk four to six miles to access often-unclean water sources.

Niger and Mali both lack high-grade water governance that can ensure fair and peaceful access to clean water, and the slow wheels of politics can’t provide a swift solution.

Getting the job done! Source: WBH

At Wells Bring Hope, we know that water isn’t a commodity to be exploited or restricted. It’s everyone’s right. We’re actively reinforcing that fact by drilling wells and providing tools and education which empower Nigerien and Malian communities to manage their own water sources.

How Wells Bring Hope Strengthens Water Sovereignty

Our eight-step, water-centric mission is succeeding in restoring health, financial prospects, and sustainability to villages in Mali and Niger. Here are some of the many positive changes we see thanks to our volunteers, donors, and partners:

  • Women and girls saved from walking miles for water.
  • Groundwater being purified by building latrines.
  • Improved hygiene practices and reduced illness, disease, and child mortality.
  • Drip farming techniques enabling villagers to grow and market their own food.

Simple handwashing can prevent a host of problems. Source: WBH

And we’re not alone in the fight for basic human rights. Initiatives like Nigeriens Nourishing Nigeriens and Mali’s National Strategic Digital Health Plan are underway within our operating regions proving that other organizations share our spirit.

As a Wells Bring Hope donor, you can be confident that 100% of your donation goes to funding a safe water project. You’ll also know you’re making a powerful difference to present and future generations.

Together, we can win the water wars! Source: WBH

Sources:

  1. Ismail, S. (2026, February 13). Are African ‘water wars’ on the horizon as AU puts the issue on its agenda? Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/13/are-african-water-wars-on-the-horizon-as-au-puts-the-issue-on-its-agenda
  1. News and press release. (2022, May 3). Burkina Faso: Over a quarter million people victims of new “water war” in peak dry season. https://reliefweb.int/report/burkina-faso/burkina-faso-over-quarter-million-people-victims-new-water-war-peak-dry-season#:~:text=Thirty-two%20water%20facilities%20have,any%20other%20in%20the%20country
  1. Press releases. (2026, February 11). AU Executive Council Opens 48th Ordinary Session with Strong Call for Unity, Sustainable Water Management and Accelerated Continental Integration. https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20260211/au-executive-council-opens-48th-ordinary-session-strong-call-unity
  1. Wells Bring Hope. What We Do. https://wellsbringhope.org/what-we-do/
  1. Futurepolicy.org. Niger’s 3N Initiative: ‘Nigeriens Nourishing Nigeriens’. https://www.futurepolicy.org/healthy-ecosystems/nigers-3n-initiative-nigeriens-nourishing-nigeriens/