To support the Government of Niger and other key actors in stabilizing areas facing existential threats from violent extremist activity.

WHY USAID/OTI IS IN NIGER

Niger’s location and robust security relationship with the United States makes the country a key ally in disrupting terrorist threats in the Sahel. In the last two years, the region experienced a sharp increase in violent extremism (VE) activity in the last two years, with significantly destabilizing effects in neighboring Mali, Burkina Faso, and northeast Nigeria. For six years, USAID/OTI Niger worked with communities in the Lake Chad Basin and Liptako Gourma regions to counter VE threats. Recognizing that this threat adds to an already complex set of development challenges for Niger, USAID/OTI is shifting to support the Government of Niger's stabilization and decentralization efforts, and to work with the USAID/Niger Mission to strengthen conflict responsive programming.

USAID/OTI’S ROLE IN NIGER

USAID/OTI’s initial program objectives include: 

• Providing technical assistance to the civilian ministries of the Government of Niger to support stabilization and peacebuilding efforts;

• Strengthening the connection between national and local level governance in key areas; and

• Supporting USAID/Niger Mission efforts to adapt programming across sectors by combining efforts to bolster stabilization objectives.

INITIAL PROGRAM APPROACH

Nigeriens are vulnerable to multiple threats in their region, including Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa on the Nigerian border, ISIS-Libya on its Libyan border, and ISIS-Greater Sahara and Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin on the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso.. Banditry and organized crime are increasing, blurring the line between illicit trafficking and VE activity in many areas, while negative actors increasingly threaten or exploit trade routes and economic corridors.  These challenges are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which could increasingly destabilize Niger’s development. Niger also has planned local and national democratic elections in December. 

USAID/OTI will deliver fast and flexible support to help key stakeholders bolster Niger's stability as it grapples with ongoing VE threats. This will include close coordination between the Government of Niger and USAID to design, implement, monitor, and learn from activities in support of conflict stabilization, action-oriented research, and capacity building for key stabilization actors.