Bilma, Agadez region – The President of the High Authority for the Consolidation of Peace (HACP), the Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Niger, and the Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Niger, along with regional and local authorities of Bilma and Dirkou, visited Bilma in northeast Niger during the week of 6 June to witness the tangible outcomes of the Kawar Economic Development Support Project (PADEK) funded by the French Development Agency.

The PADEK, funded by the AFD and the HACP and implemented via IOM's community stabilization programme, aims to promote social cohesion in Kawar, northern Niger, and improve economic opportunities for vulnerable communities, including youth and women. 

In the Kawar region, specifically in the four communes of Dirkou, Bilma, Djado, and Fachi, the implementation of law No. 2015-36 since 2015, criminalizing human trafficking and migrant smuggling, has significantly impacted the local communities. These communes have historically relied on diverse economic activities associated with transit migration to sustain their livelihoods.

Recognizing the importance of community stabilization in the Kawar area, Sophie Nonnenmacher, IOM Niger Chief of Mission, highlights the paramount significance of the PADEK project.

"The PADEK project plays a vital role in actively supporting community restoration, livelihood improvement, and peace promotion," says Nonnenmacher. “The project encompasses various aspects, including ensuring access to vital social services, fostering economic opportunities for vulnerable populations, and organizing cultural activities to enhance social cohesion”, she adds.

The visit coincided with the fifth steering committee meeting of the PADEK project, held in the remote town of Bilma. This meeting provided an opportunity to assess the project's implementation and its impact on peacebuilding in the Kawar region, with a particular emphasis on the accessibility of sustainable livelihoods, specifically for youth and women.

Launched in December 2021, the PADEK project has provided support to 510 individuals from the Kawar region. Out of these, 321 are women who have engaged in income-generating activities. Notably, 50 individuals have ventured into poultry farming, 160 individuals have pursued market gardening, and 300 individuals have focused on raising small ruminants such as sheep and goats.

In line with its commitment to promoting social cohesion and strengthening collaboration between the Kawar community and local authorities, the project has actively supported the establishment or revitalization of four local steering committees. These committees have successfully organized numerous meetings and community dialogues, fostering engagement and cooperation among stakeholders.

Through IOM's community stabilization programme, the PADEK project presents promising prospects for women and youth in Kawar. It involves the construction or rehabilitation of two community radios, two youth complexes, two poultry farms, and five stores dedicated to selling agricultural inputs. Additionally, ongoing efforts are focused on irrigating 40 hectares of land in the four intervention communes, thereby enhancing agricultural productivity and economic opportunities.

For more information, please contact Aïssatou SY, Public Information Officer, at +227 80 06 65 31 or aisy@iom.int.