Our brand new video series, "Hi from the field," highlights staff across the globe!

First up... Colombia and Niger. Watch and share! 

Meet Erika Romero, Humanity & Inclusion's demining area manager in Colombia and learn why our mine action team is planting trees in places where they've cleared weapons.

Take a step inside an inclusive classroom for children with visual disabilities in Niger and watch as these incredible children learn how to read and write in Braille.

Malnutrition is endemic in Africa’s Sahel, an arid region in between the Sahara desert and the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, which is often affected by drought. Due to a lack of essential vitamins and minerals, children with malnutrition suffer from restricted growth and develop after-effects, which can be disabling in the long term. The result is not always fatal, but the impact on their quality of life can be devastating.

A new Handicap International program is helping to safeguard civilians who were living in proximity to poorly secured weapons and munitions depots in Niger.

MANDATE

Humanity & Inclusion’s main goal in Niger is to have a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities and/or vulnerable people, by reducing risks and preventing disabilities, improving access to services, and promoting a more inclusive society. In 2006, the organization decided to set up a permanent program to ensure the long-term future of its actions and to radically improve the living conditions of people with disabilities. Since the 2012, Humanity & Inclusion has been working to improve the living conditions of refugees in the cities of Niamey and Maradi, who fled the violence in neighboring Mali. There are 49 national staff members and three expatriates working on behalf of Humanity & Inclusion in Niger.

BACKGROUND

Niger is one of the poorest countries on the planet, and 86.1% of its population lives in extreme poverty. In 2013, Niger’s Human Development Index was the worst of any of the 186 countries measured by the UNDP. Although they already suffer tough living conditions, the situation facing people with disabilities is made worse by wide-spread discrimination and socioeconomic inequality. Due to this discrimination, disabled people have very limited access to education, jobs and health services. They are also excluded from communities and their specific needs are rarely taken into account in development actions. Until 2009, Niger had been repeatedly destabilized by recurrent Tuareg rebellions, mainly in the north of the country. These bouts of conflict have left Agadez province contaminated by mines and explosive remnants of war, which continue kill and maim people today.

ACTIONS

• Inclusive education
• Disability rights
• Support for refugees
• Support for children
• Small arms and light weapons

Inclusive Education

Through a West African regional project that also takes place in Burkina Faso, Liberia, Mali, Senegal and Togo, Humanity & Inclusion promotes the inclusion of children with disabilities in Niger's education system. To ensure children with disabilities benefit from an education that meets their needs, this project supports the parents of children with disabilities, trains teachers in teaching techniques for children with physical, sensory or mental impairments, and advocates for national inclusive educational policy. This project has already benefited 3,300 children with disabilities; at least 300 teachers, school heads, and teaching supervisors in 530 schools; and 120 members of disabled people's organizations.

Disability Rights

Humanity & Inclusion helps people with disabilities in the cities of Niamey and Maradi enjoy the same rights as their fellow citizens and ensures their full participation in social and economic life. HI staff provide technical and organizational support to The Niger Disabled People's Federation and local authorities in Niamey and Maradi to in order to promote inclusive development processes in these areas. Training is also provided to local authorities to encourage them to take people with disabilities into account when implementing policies so they can enjoy the same rights as their fellow citizens.

Support for Refugees

Humanity & Inclusion also uses its expertise to support the Malian refugees currently living in Niamey, having fled the drought and fighting in northern Mali the broke out in the summer of 2012. The organization has also taken over the management of a reception team and support team that provide refugees with referrals to all the different services they require (health, education etc.). 

Support for Children

Humanity & Inclusion works in the region of Maradi to protect and reduce the vulnerability of malnourished children and their families. This project also includes work in preventing potential disability in malnourished children. 10,500 severely and moderately malnourished children along with 400 children identified as being at-risk or already suffering from developmental delays are expected to benefit from this project in the next two years. 

Small Arms and Light Weapons

Humanity & Inclusion also runs a project to secure the country's armed forces' weapons and munitions stockpiles with the aim of limiting the risk of accidents. The organization simultaneously works on the construction and rehabilitation of adapted storage facilities and the destruction of obsolete weapons and munitions.