The Millennium Challenge Corporation hosted its quarterly town hall meeting on the 20th December 2012. At this meeting, the Board selected Niger for the first time as a country eligible for a Compact program with MCC. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) created by the U.S. Congress in January 2004 is a U.S. foreign aid agency that is fighting against global poverty. MCC has two forms of grants: Compacts which are large 5 year grants...
Niger RPCV Guy Immega has released a new e-book, Ancient Egypt's Lost Legacy? The Buduma Culture of Lake Chad, featuring much detailed information about the culture of the very remote, eastern parts of Niger. Guy has generously shared his book with us as a PDF file, that you can download and read here (PDF, 7.2 MB). Full URL: http://friendsofniger.org/pdf/Buduma_Master_V4.pdf You can also get a special version of the e-book on the Apple...
This Associated Press story provides a chilling look into the reality facing many nomads in the face of famine and drought. From the article: In markets all over Niger, hungry people are selling hungry animals for half their normal value, giving up on the milk and money of tomorrow so that their children can eat today. Their plight is a sign of how far the economy of the desert has broken down, leaving its people unable to feed themselves in...
Reporters Without Borders has released its 2011-2012 ranking of Press Freedom around the globe, with Niger showing the biggest improvement of any country in the world. From the full version of the press release: Niger (29th) rose 75 places in the index, the biggest leap by any country in the world this year. The economic environment for Niger's media is very precarious but they are free and benefit from favourable legislation. Media freedom...
With causes ranging from policy failures to marginal help from development agencies, The Economist argues in a July 7, 2012 article that even inadequate irrigation in the region can be overcome through long-term planning: Read more: Full URL: http://www.economist.com/node/21558315
A recent story from the Washington Post highlights how the current food crisis leads to more child marriages in Niger, where the rate of child marriage is already the highest in the world. From the author, Sudarsan Raghavan: Niger has the world's highest rate of child marriage, with roughly one out of two girls marrying before age 15, some as young as 7. As a hunger crisis affects millions here and across the Sahel region of West Africa, aid...
We are all concerned about the growing food crisis in Niger, and MercyCorps is ramping up their efforts not only to raise awareness of this dire situation, but to provide direct assistance that is greatly needed in the Sahel. Some featured articles include: Cassandra Nelson's latest blog entry describes the impact the hunger crisis is having on children. Full URL: http://www.mercycorps.org/cassandranelson/blog/26626 In this video Nelson...
Music with a message of peace. On April 5th, 300 people, along with the Ambassadors of Niger and Gabon, danced, clapped and cheered for Tuareg sensation Bombino at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH to support RAIN's programs in Niger. Bombino at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH At the reception before the performance, Portsmouth Mayor Eric Spears was on hand to deliver to Bombino and the Ambassadors a special welcome and to proclaim April 5, 2012...
In January of 2011 we informed you that Boston University had suspended its program in Niger. We just learned that Boston University has made the decision to definitively close its long-standing International Development Study Abroad program in Niger. The January 2011 announcement: http://www.bu.edu/abroad/2011/01/11/niger-program-announcement/ For more information about Boston University's Study Abroad programs, please contact the university...
