Quarterly Report July – September 2015: MADARA Program in Niger

The program aims to work with households to respond to the need for sustainable rehabilitation of pastureland, improved access to nutritious animal feed during the dry and lean seasons, and strengthened animal health and nutrition. The program is implemented in the Filingué department, Tillabéri region, Niger, and targets 21,000 beneficiaries, including 3,000 households. The program has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, with a notable increase in the number of women practicing breastfeeding, from 19% at baseline to 58% in the reporting period. The program has also supported the establishment of three community nurseries, which have produced over 24,242 plants of local varieties, including Acacia Senegal, Ziziphus Mauritania, and Balanites. The program has also supported the replanting of grazing lands, with a total of 99.34 hectares being restored, including 77.44 hectares replanted with plants produced from the nurseries and 21.9 hectares reseeded with seeds collected by the communities. The Department of Environment in Filingué supervised the replanting. The program has also supported the local land tenure commissions (COFOBs) in leading meetings to determine the structure of community management of the revitalized grazing lands. The program has also supported the training of 28 Local Health & Nutrition Coordinators (CLSN) on essential family practices, including the use of health centers for pregnant and lactating women, complementary diet for pregnant and lactating women, and improved hygiene and sanitation practices. The program has also supported the establishment of 27 Health Clubs across nine villages, which have reached 381 women, who have discussed health and nutrition messages broadcast on the radio. The program has also supported the technical supervision and support of 15 para-veterinarians and five animal feed businesses to improve their livestock health services and outreach techniques. The program has also supported the training of 370 women from individual and cooperative households on cheesemaking techniques, following an organized process to produce a more standard product for improved marketing. The program has also supported the establishment of 146 microenterprises financed through MADARA to help them apply business management practices. The program has also supported the technical supervision and support of 15 para-veterinarians and five animal feed businesses to improve their livestock health services and outreach techniques. The program has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, with a notable increase in the number of women practicing breastfeeding, from 19% at baseline to 58% in the reporting period. The program has also supported the establishment of three community nurseries, which have produced over 24,242 plants of local varieties, including Acacia Senegal, Ziziphus Mauritania, and Balanites. The program has also supported the replanting of grazing lands, with a total of 99.34 hectares being restored, including 77.44 hectares replanted with plants produced from the nurseries and 21.9 hectares reseeded with seeds collected by the communities. The Department of Environment in Filingué supervised the replanting. The program has also supported the local land tenure commissions (COFOBs) in leading meetings to determine the structure of community management of the revitalized grazing lands. The program has also supported the training of 28 Local Health & Nutrition Coordinators (CLSN) on essential family practices, including the use of health centers for pregnant and lactating women, complementary diet for pregnant and lactating women, and improved hygiene and sanitation practices. The program has also supported the establishment of 27 Health Clubs across nine villages, which have reached 381 women, who have discussed health and nutrition messages broadcast on the radio. The program has also supported the technical supervision and support of 15 para-veterinarians and five animal feed businesses to improve their livestock health services and outreach techniques. The program has also supported the training of 370 women from individual and cooperative households on cheesemaking techniques, following an organized process to produce a more standard product for improved marketing. The program has also supported the establishment of 146 microenterprises financed through MADARA to help them apply business management practices. The program has also supported the technical supervision and support of 15 para-veterinarians and five animal feed businesses to improve their livestock health services and outreach techniques. The program has also supported the training of 28 Local Health & Nutrition Coordinators (CLSN) on essential family practices, including the use of health centers for pregnant and lactating women, complementary diet for pregnant and lactating women, and improved hygiene and sanitation practices.