Niger
Armed conflict, chronic food insecurity, recurrent floods, a subsistence-based economy and political sensitivity have made slow onset emergencies in this vast and dry West African country increasingly complex. The use of land-mines and the absence of substantive discussions with national authorities have significantly restricted humanitarian access and partners. The lack of reliable data on population displacement impedes humanitarian planning, response and impact assessment.
Niger continues to be confronted with food insecurity and malnutrition. Extreme sensitivity to these issues by the Government has often resulted in restricted access and effective prevention of some agencies from operating normally, thereby diminishing the effectiveness of any planned humanitarian appeal. To overcome these barriers and build trust, OCHA will foster humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy, supporting the Humanitarian Coordinator to encourage and facilitate discussion between the Government and other stakeholders.
Heavy rains in 2008 and the ensuing floods affected over 57,000 persons and increased the vulnerability of communities in many rural areas. In 2009, OCHA will develop and continuously review regional contingency plans based on sound, multi-hazard risk analysis and including prevention and early recovery aspects.
Throughout 2009, OCHA will strengthen national emergency response capacities and sustain advocacy and awareness of humanitarian principles. OCHA will continue to provide timely, concise, analytical and meaningful briefs to the humanitarian community on relevant issues and evolving needs in the country.
Through fully functioning clusters, a key function of the OCHA office will be to provide substantial inter-cluster coordination, and support humanitarian partners’ efforts at strengthening humanitarian preparedness and action in the country. Strengthening existing humanitarian coordination and effective response to emergency needs, OCHA will promote the appointment of cluster coordinators for each area of response. It will monitor and coordinate inter-agency assessments in areas affected by violence, natural disaster, food insecurity and malnutrition. OCHA will improve, through a series of workshops, the understanding of humanitarian partners and government counterparts on humanitarian principles, emergency planning and preparedness and the cluster approach.
Fully implementing OCHA’s Field Information Management Strategy, the office will produce and make available information management products which provide analysis on humanitarian needs and constraints. This will enable OCHA to further support humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
OCHA will increase resource mobilization efforts. Advocacy policies and campaigns will also contribute to better awareness of humanitarian issues and help to promote an adequate financial response.
OCHA will strengthen the field office in Niamey and continue to maintain sub-offices in Tahoua, Maradi and Zinder. Additional sub-offices recently opened in Diffa and Agadez will be supported.
Key Objectives, Outputs and Indicators
