Policy paper

UK–Niger development partnership summary, March 2024

Published 27 March 2024

Introduction 

The international development white paper sets out a re-energised agenda for the UK working with partners to accelerate progress on eliminating extreme poverty, tackling climate change and biodiversity loss, and accelerating progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

In a contested world, where ODA alone will not be enough, achieving the vision as set out in the SDGs requires a radical rethink in our approach to international development. The white paper sets out how our partnerships are central to this approach. These are founded on mutual respect, with an emphasis on country ownership, accountability, transparency and common values. This country development partnership summary details how the approach set out in the white paper will be put into practice with Niger. 

Country context 

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world. It ranks 189th out of 193 countries in the Human Development Index and faces an acute and complex humanitarian crisis; the UN estimates 4.5 million people (16% of the population) are in need of humanitarian assistance in 2024. Niger faces an array of security challenges from violent extremist organisations and ranks 10/89 in the Global Terrorism Index 2024 report. Around 335,000 people across the country have been displaced due to violence and Niger is host to over 258,000 refugees that have fled insecurity from neighbouring Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria.  

Like all countries in the Sahel, Niger is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and depends on agriculture for 40% of its GDP. With the highest birth rate in the world, the population of 26 million could double by 2050 if current trends continue. Like all countries in the Sahel, Niger is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and depends on agriculture for feeding its people. Pre-existing development, humanitarian and security challenges have been compounded by the military coup that took place in July 2023. 

Why and how: the UK’s development offer with Niger 

Supporting the people of Niger is in line with the UK’s commitment to prioritise aid to the poorest. Niger sits at the bottom of all development indices, including education, sexual and reproductive health, gender equality and climate change. These challenges are too great for the UK to tackle alone – we work in partnership with other donors and use all levers of government to address our development priorities. In Niger, these include:

i) building stability and bolstering conflict resolution

ii) improving the response to the most acute humanitarian needs

iii) empowering women and girls to reduce social inequality and accelerate human development

iv) building climate resilience and sustainable growth

Through diplomatic presence and aid programme, the UK will continue to respond to urgent needs, build resilience to recurrent crises, and address some of the root causes of conflict and poverty in the Sahel. We also use our funding and diplomatic presence to promote UK priorities such as freedom and democracy, the empowerment and education of women and girls, environmental protection, and respect for international humanitarian law.  

Programmes  

Sahel Humanitarian Assistance and Protection programme (SHAPP)

The SHAPP programme responds to humanitarian needs in areas of most acute need and contributes to a safer and more secure operating environment so humanitarian actors can access the hardest to reach and those in greatest need of humanitarian aid. Over 4 years the programme estimates to deliver lifesaving humanitarian aid to over 1.4 million people in Chad, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso

Shock Response Programme (SRP)

The SRP strengthens the ability of Sahel governments to better manage risks and respond to the impacts of climate and weather shocks (such as droughts and floods) through social protection systems that build the resilience of people to help them better cope with such shocks. 

Women’s Integrated Sexual Health - Dividend

This programme supports women and adolescents to have greater voice, choice and control over their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The programme will support to scale-up sustainable, inclusive access to integrated SRHR services, support policy reform to improve SRHR and provide technical assistance to partner governments to strengthen the evidence base, use of data and capacity.

Justice and Stability in Sahel (JASS)

The JASS programme contributes to improving stability in the Sahel by promoting equitable and inclusive land and water governance and justice outcomes for marginalised communities. JASS is a regional programme operating in Mali and Niger, with a pilot phase launched in Burkina Faso in 2023. 

Global Partnership for Education (GPE)

GPE aims to reduce equity, gender, and learning gaps through improved infrastructure, teacher reforms, and learning programmes.  

Who we work with 

Implementing partners

• World Bank
• United Nations: World Food Programme, UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN International Children’s (Emergency) Fund (UNICEF)
• non-governmental organisations: International Committee of the Red Cross, Danish Refugee Council (DRC), MCI

Donors and regional bodies

• France
• Germany
• US
• European Union
• United Nations
• African Union
• Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

In-country

• Government of Niger and national agencies
• Nigerien and international non-governmental organisations
• national universities

Related links

• Sahel development partnership summary 
• Pan-Africa Department development partnership summary