Niger has great potential to set up well-organized value chains. That is the conviction of Rakiatou Gazibo, director of Partners for Innovation in Niger. She thinks young, female entrepreneurs can play an important role in this.

The West-African country, which is 30 times the size of the Netherlands, consists of eight regions, each with their own agricultural traditions. “In each of these regions, two to three value chains could be well organised, from which the local population, the economy and biodiversity can benefit,” said Ms. Gazibo. She foresees an important role in this for young women, who could start working as entrepreneurs in sustainable agriculture. “In collaboration with Government and National actors, the support of the United Nations, financial partners, donors and foreign embassies, Partners for Innovation can be an important pivot in setting up these value chains.”

Strengthening economic resilience through market access and the development of inclusive value chains is one of PfI’s objectives. Think of crops like tiger nuts, ground nuts, cow pea,  onions and specifics other crops. These are a few examples of food crops that, according to Rakiatou Gazibo, are suitable for making Niger more self-sufficient in a sustainable way. The process and the storage segments can embrace youth and women in various derivate jobs.

The country’s decision to leave Ecowas, a group of West-African nations working together economically, hasn’t made things any easier for Niger. The closure of borders in particular is detrimental to international trade and the import of food and goods, as the country has no direct connection to the sea.

Knowledge of the local situation

Therefore, Niger is forced to look for opportunities within its own borders. These opportunities exist, also for Partners for Innovation Niger, which has been operating as a private company from the capital Niamey since 2014. The office can now be an important pivot between the parties, Ms. Gazibo believes.

“We do good work with a young team that is familiar with the local situation and has the needed expertise. We have a good relationship with both the government and donors, as well as with private parties and NGOs. Our expertise extends from agribusiness and valorisation of local products to employment and entrepreneurship for the young and female working population in specific value chains. Valorisation of local food and local expertise is our sphere of competence. We are committed to combating climate change and biodiversity loss, to sustainable agriculture and agroforestry. We provide training, coaching, advice, carry out studies and evaluations and organise events. Gender and Social Inclusion are significant topics and become a focus in all Partners for Innovation actions,” she added.

Value chain for tiger nuts

A project that is currently ongoing focusses on Tiger Nuts. In 2021, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) awarded this project to a consortium of four companies, including Partners for Innovation Niger. These vegetable tubers are a valuable source of protein and are used locally only on a domestic scale as primary products. However, Tiger nuts are exported to Spain, where they are processed into a milk drink on an industrial scale – the popular Horchata de Chufas. The aim of this project is to improve productivity and to set up a domestic value chain, including a tiger nut milk factory. That project has been delayed by a year, but the components are on their way and construction will start in the spring of 2025.

Partners for Innovation Niger is currently conducting three studies for RVO. Gazibo: “First of all, a gender and social inclusion analysis to strengthen the position of women and youth in the Tiger Nut value chain, Ground nut value chain and horticulture. In addition, we are doing a study on climate change and biodiversity restoration. Fires are currently used to prepare the land for the tiger nut harvest, with all the harmful consequences for the environment and soil life that entails. In the study, we map out sustainable best practices. We also investigate whether the leaves can be converted into biofertilizers. A third study, that was recently approved, concerns  improving the productivity of tiger nut through innovative cultivation techniques and to meet the challenges of large-scale processing and marketing via the private sector.  .”

Horti Hub Cluster training program

Another project that deserves to be followed up is Horti-hub cluster Niger. This three-year project was completed at the end of 2024. It brought best practices and technology from both the Dutch and the Nigerien partners together, to develop entrepreneurial vegetable horticulture in Niger. Three groups of 25 young ‘agripreneurs’ were trained in entrepreneurship skills.

In addition to a curriculum of 5-10 technical modules, 12 very experienced lead farmers taught them the tricks of the trade on a demo field of Partners for Innovation.  And finally, a space for sharing, co-creation and co-funding was created in the Partners for Innovation Office, to offer a concrete space to these young entrepreneurs to organise lectures and other activities to boost their potential.

In addition, the room is used regularly by the group to meet, write proposals and discuss how they could achieve more by forging coalitions. Gazibo: “This entire trajectory, which is intended to increase agricultural entrepreneurial capacity, lends itself perfectly to application elsewhere.”

Energy for all by the promotion of renewable energy

Access to renewable energy enables young people to carry out sustainable business activities, take charge of their own lives and contribute to the socio-economic development of their communities. PfI has the expertise to support and develop SMEs, thereby stimulating employment. This will also enhance local production.

For more information: see the website of PfI Niger (in French) www.pfiniger.com