Deadline: 25-Jul-23
The U.S. Embassy Niamey / Bureau of African Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms for local communities living in wildlife-protected areas in niger.
Program Objectives
- Niger is home to many rare desert species including the critically endangered addax antelope, of which there are fewer than 100 left in the wild. In addition, Niger’s giraffes are the only remaining species of Peralta giraffes. These critically endangered and vulnerable species are threatened by habitat reduction due to unsustainable development, poaching, and the presence of violent extremist organizations (VEO) and traffickers.
- While Niger has a national park and protected areas, including reserves and preserves, many Nigeriens do not understand the valuable role played by wildlife because wildlife protection laws often run into conflict with the welfare of populations living within or near protected areas. As communities clear protected habitats for crop cultivation, wildlife are often forced to search for alternative food sources and may raid farmer’s fields, resulting in retaliatory killings.
- Moreover, many VEOs have sought refuge in protected areas including the region’s famous Park W. In addition to reports that VEOs are engaged in wildlife and other forms of trafficking, the resulting insecurity has caused tourism to suffer, eliminating a critical stream of income for communities living in and near these areas.
- Without conservation education and anti-poaching enforcement, some of Niger’s rare species face extinction. Niger has one of the lowest rankings on the Human Development Index and communities living in or near protected areas face challenges in balancing their agricultural production needs with wildlife conservation policies and practices. In countries such as Niger where rural people’s livelihoods depends on their natural environment, there is a need to create an environment for sustainable coexistence that will allow both the wildlife and local communities to thrive. When governments, communities, environmental NGOs and other partners work together, they have a positive influence on conservation outcomes.
- This program will support organizations working on wildlife conservation to assist local communities living in and near wildlife-protected areas, including both farmers and herders, to develop their capacity to actively engage in the preservation of wildlife and Niger’s natural heritage.
- Objective 1: Amplify the voices of the locals who remain a marginalized group in wildlife-protected areas.
- Objective 2: Promote the welfare of local communities with diversified means of livelihoods and/or the provision of basic infrastructure.
- Objective 3: Engage local communities in the fight against violent extremist organizations and traffickers.
Funding Information
- Total available funding: $250,000
- Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $250,000.
- Length of performance period: 12 months.
Project Activities
- Project activities could include the following:
- Advocating with government institutions to consider local communities’ needs.
- Establishing a surveillance system to create a safe environment that promotes tourism.
- Creating diversified income generating activities to reduce dependance on agricultural production.
- Establishing information-sharing networks between GoN and local communities to report suspected VEO and poaching activities.
- Using local knowledge to improve wildlife protection policies and programs.
- Amplifying the voice of marginalized groups, especially women.
- Supporting women-led groups working on environment issues to reverse desertification.
- Raising awareness of conservation laws and the law’s benefits for both farmers and herders.
- Basic infrastructure construction for local communities, including health facilities, water sites (wells, boreholes,) and marking cattle passageways for transhumant herders.
Outcomes
- Anticipated outcomes attributable to program activities include:
- Local communities collaborate and share information with government institutions, limiting the operating space for violent extremist organizations and traffickers.
- Local communities demonstrate an improved willingness to engage in wildlife protection.
- Local communities’ livelihoods are protected.
- Local community members, especially women, are engaged and included in the area’s development.
Participants and Audiences: The project beneficiaries are community members – mostly farmers and herders – living in or around wildlife protected areas.
Priority Region: Communities in and around National parks, reserves, and preserves
Eligibility Criteria
- The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations.
- Public and private educational and environmental institutions
- Note: These funds cannot support police, military, paramilitary, prisons, intelligence, or law enforcement purposes.
For more information, visit Africa Regional Democracy Fund.