From November 25 to 27, 2024, the Maradi region in Niger hosted a high-level delegation from the Swiss Cooperation, led by Mr. Nicolas Randin, Deputy Director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in charge of Africa. Accompanied by Mr. Rémy Duven, Head of the West Africa Section of the SDC, and Mr. Claudio Tognola, Head of Swiss Cooperation in Niger, the mission aimed to assess the progress and impact of the Alternative Education Program for Youth (PEAJ), implemented by Swisscontact and Médecins du Monde.

In the 21st century, humanity is pursuing an ambitious mission: to make our world more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous for everyone. This vision, encapsulated in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), unites nations, international organizations, and NGOs in the effort to improve living conditions, reduce inequalities, and promote social cohesion. However, while the SDGs offer a hopeful roadmap, achieving them in fragile contexts - regions plagued by political instability, conflict, natural disasters, and poverty - is an especially formidable challenge.

Niger ranks among the world’s poorest countries. Despite the Sahel region’s interior harbouring valuable raw materials, the majority of the country’s gross domestic product is earned in agriculture and the informal sector. Approximately 80 percent of the population survives on subsistence agriculture, and nearly half of Nigeriens live in extreme poverty. The goal of Swisscontact’s local entrepreneurship promotion programme (PROMEL) is to improve collaboration with institutional partners and the private sector, improving access to markets for businesses, and creating income opportunities for women and young people through educational qualifications.