Multi-sectoral support to vulnerable households in Diffa, Niger (Agreement No: 720FDA18GR00280)

The program aimed to improve the living conditions and build the resilience of vulnerable households in Diffa region through emergency and early recovery interventions in the WASH, protection, food security, shelter, and NFI sectors. The program targeted 26,280 direct beneficiaries, including 14,580 internally displaced persons (IDPs). The program focused on five departments: Diffa, Maïné Soroa, and Goudoumaria for WASH; N’Guigmi, Bosso, Diffa, Maïné Soroa, and Goudoumaria for protection; and N’Gourti, Diffa, Maïné Soroa, and Goudoumaria for agriculture and food security. Shelter and settlements interventions were implemented in the Diffa department. The program implemented various activities, including hygiene promotion, sanitation, and shelter interventions. In the hygiene promotion sector, community-led sensitization was conducted in four communes, reaching 4,476 people. Hygiene promotion activities were also carried out in 15 schools, targeting 11,723 students. The program also established handwashing stations in each school, which could serve an average of 500 students. In the sanitation sector, the program promoted household latrine construction and maintenance by providing subsidies for latrine construction for 500 households. The program also distributed sanitation kits to 1,500 households and conducted monthly sanitation days in the communities. The program aimed to establish an integrated approach to ending the transmission of water-borne diseases by targeting villages with access to clean drinking water. The program's midterm evaluation revealed a significant impact on the living conditions of vulnerable households in Diffa region. The program's implementation was delayed due to challenges outlined in the report, including the relocation of implementation sites and the suspension of activities at the N’gagam site due to attacks by non-state armed actors. Despite these setbacks, the program continued to offer emergency protection services and closely monitored the evolving needs of affected populations. The program's geographic focus was on the Diffa region in eastern Niger, which has been affected by non-state armed group (NSAG) activities since 2015. The program's timeframes were from August 1, 2018, to July 31, 2019, with a reporting period from August 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019. The program's recommendations included strengthening awareness raising during the next distribution of NFIs and establishing an integrated approach to ending the transmission of water-borne diseases.