By Manvitha Prasad Kathula Source: NigerTZai Climate change is more than just hotter summers and colder winters. It often leads to mass migration – where people are forced to leave their homes behind as their environment becomes increasingly inhospitable. In Niger and most of Sub-Saharan Africa, rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and a significant increase in… Read more »
Water Scarcity and Malnutrition: An Interconnected Challenge
By Tawanda Mukwekwezeke The global issues of water scarcity and malnutrition are closely intertwined. An exploration of this complex relationship reveals how lack of access to clean water perpetuates the cycle of hunger and poor health. In regions without reliable access to safe drinking water, people often suffer and die from preventable illnesses that can… Read more »
Launch of the BIOFIN Initiative Brings Hope for a Sustainable Future in Niger
By Kayla Ruff Source: Gerd Altmann from Pixabay The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) was officially launched in Niger on March 22, 2023. BIOFIN is a global partnership launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Commission, and the initiative works to measure existing biodiversity expenditure levels, assess future financial needs, and design… Read more »
Local Land Rehabilitation Techniques May Be the Key to Restoring Niger’s Agricultural Lands
By Kayla Ruff Source: Nature Design According to a recently published study conducted in southern Niger, agricultural structures called ‘half-moons’ have the potential to substantially increase Niger’s crop productivity. Scientists assessed the effectiveness of these structures between 2013 and 2020 at 18 sites in southern Niger, and the results of the study revealed that there… Read more »
Artificial Rain Could Create a Silver Lining
By Will Beeker Source: Wells Bring Hope Despite heavy rains and flooding this fall, ongoing drought continues to pose a problem for Niger, especially late in its dry season. Niger often deals with periods of drought, but the country’s southeast is currently experiencing its lowest rainfall in 30 years, exacerbating food shortages. In August 2022,… Read more »
Finding Hope for Wildlife Conservation in Niger
By Kayla Ruff While Niger provides habitat for some of Africa’s most notable wildlife species, such as the hippopotamus and Nile crocodile, the country is also home to many lesser-known yet critically endangered species. It’s clear Niger’s rare desert species are in dire straits: Only about 100 addax desert antelope are left in the wild,… Read more »
Green Hydrogen : New Frontier, Old Questions
By Will Beeker Source: DLR In July, German energy investment firm Emerging Energy Corp (EEC) announced it is seeking a partner to help determine the feasibility of commercially developing “green hydrogen” in Niger. Because of its extreme flammability, hydrogen can be a challenging fuel source, but its value is predicted to rise in coming years… Read more »
Africa’s Great Green Wall Initiative is Evolving
By Will Beeker In 2007, a group of African countries in the Sahel region came together with an ambitious plan: planting a 5,000-mile line of trees stretching from Senegal on Africa’s west coast to Djibouti on its east coast to be completed by the year 2030. The aim was stopping the Sahara Desert from creeping… Read more »
Surviving the Pandemic: Microfinance Training for Women
By Amber Persson The COVID-19 pandemic has devasted countries across the world but has also led to an increased sense of community and compassion between people. In countries like Niger, community-building can help families survive the ongoing pandemic. One such community-building activity is the creation of women’s savings groups, which help families persevere amidst the… Read more »
How Niger’s Agricultural Industry Is Fighting Back Against Climate Change
By Amber Nicolai Source: Stephan Gladieu / World Bank Over 80% of Nigeriens depend on agriculture for their livelihood—a livelihood that is being severely threatened by climate change. An arid country to begin with, Niger is far from ideal for raising crops or livestock. And now it’s facing the additional challenges that climate change brings… Read more »
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