PROJECT OBJECTIVE WORK

PROJECT OBJECTIVE WORK: three days of discussions and ideas for ecological transition in Niger

OBJECTIVE WORK is a project on the innovation of agro-pastoral supply chains and micro-enterprises for youth employability in Niger, funded by the Italian Ministry of the Interior and implemented by CISV Onlus in partnership with Movimento Africa ’70. Young people from rural areas of Zinder and Tillabery are forced to migrate due to lack of employment, while the cities of Niamey and Zinder are destinations for migration from rural areas. Unfortunately, employment is scarce even there, despite the high potential of the sector for transforming and selling products derived from livestock farming.

It hasn’t been an easy project, affected by the crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the coup d’état in Niger in July 2023. But the NGOs involved have never been discouraged, and activities have continued. Micro-enterprises have been created, and a series of positive dynamics have been set in motion. CISAO has participated, with considerable difficulty, in the dynamics of training in agroecology and improving the milk supply chain, continuing the thread already started with the ‘Milk and Honey’ project.
On April 17-18-19, thanks to the fundamental contribution of Moussa, a Nigerien agronomist who has been the project leader for some months, we organized three interesting moments of discussion with local actors from the Federation system (FCMN-NIYA) and cooperatives to reflect together on the pillars of agroecological transition.

We examined the theme of seeds, a fundamental starting point for any supply chain, and the thirteen principles of agroecology synthesized by FAO in 2020 (https://www.fao.org/agroecology/database/detail/en/c/1373872/). Particularly interesting was the exchange with representatives of Confcooperative Piemonte, who participated in the final day, bringing their experience from Piedmontese horticultural supply chains.

Unfortunately, today it is difficult to meet for an in-person workshop; however, energies, ideas, and reflections have transcended the screen, generating interesting insights that can represent an important starting point for developing new projects in the sub-Saharan area and continuing to discuss necessary transitions.

Thanks to Moussa and all the staff for these opportunities to meet!