Baseline Report: Integrated Support to Conflict- and Climate-Shock Affected Vulnerable Households in Diffa and Maradi, Niger

The Diffa and Maradi regions are among the most affected areas, with a high number of displaced and vulnerable populations. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is implementing a two-year intervention, funded by the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, to address humanitarian needs and improve access to multisectoral emergency, recovery, and longer-term assistance. The program aims to combine lifesaving and early recovery services for affected populations, enabling communities to become more self-reliant. Three models of intervention are being implemented in the targeted regions: emergency interventions, early recovery interventions, and interventions targeting chronically vulnerable areas. Each type of intervention includes a tailored and integrated package of activities across various sectors, including food assistance, agriculture, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), shelter and settlements, multipurpose cash assistance (MPCA), nutrition, and protection. The baseline report was conducted to collect data on specific outcome indicators, which will be compared to endline survey values to evaluate the IRC's achievement of its goals and objectives. The report provides key information on the situation in the targeted sites, the needs of the populations, and potential vulnerabilities assessed during the baseline. The data collection process involved a team of interviewers who used smartphones and questionnaires to collect information from beneficiary households in Diffa and Maradi. The sample size determination was based on a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error of 5%. In Diffa, a sample of 363 beneficiaries was surveyed out of 880 targeted households, while in Maradi, 193 households were surveyed out of 360 targeted households. The selection of beneficiaries was done randomly in the population. The baseline report provides a comprehensive overview of the humanitarian situation in Niger, the IRC's intervention strategies, and the data collected to inform program implementation. The program sites in Diffa include eight locations, with a total population of 34,896 persons. The sites are divided into four post-RRM sites, four chronically vulnerable areas, and three villages in Maradi. The IRC will target 880 households in all eight sites in Diffa and 360 households in Maradi. The data collected during the baseline will be used to evaluate the IRC's achievement of its goals and objectives and to inform program implementation and adaptation. The IRC's intervention in Niger aims to address the humanitarian needs of conflict- and climate-shock affected populations, with a focus on improving access to multisectoral emergency, recovery, and longer-term assistance. The program's objectives are to provide lifesaving and early recovery services, enable communities to become more self-reliant, and improve the overall humanitarian situation in Niger. The baseline report provides a critical foundation for the IRC's intervention, enabling the organization to adapt its strategies and programs to meet the evolving needs of the affected populations.