The UNDP will assist the Tarka Valley in central Niger as part of its initiative to help developing countries in a five-year $4.5 million program to help developing communities across five continents in 10 pilot countries to catalyze institutional changes and increase communities’ adaptation to climate change. The program is in partnership with the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Small Grants Program, UN Volunteers, the Government of Japan, AusAID, and local NGOs.
UNDP is assisting three communities in the Tarka Valley to implement measures that support adaptation to climate change by providing a US $23,000 grant and helping them access relevant local and national technical expertise. The initial grant catalyzes additional resources, usually from local sources, to be invested for a variety of baseline needs. Developed through a highly consultative process, this project aims to empower community members to face climate change risks, such as drought and land degradation, while improving local livelihoods. A local NGO called Contribution à l’Education de Base is overseeing implementation, in partnership with local communities, and introducing farming techniques that enhance crop yields while improving soil fertility.
During the last growing season, farmers began field testing quick-maturing varieties of local staple crops developed at the National Agricultural Research Institute in Niger. Combined with training in soil conservation and safe application of pesticides, these techniques are already helping to increase yields despite limited rainfall. Over the next few months, additional activities, including building a community-managed bank of agricultural inputs and providing the poorest households with animal-drawn plows will consolidate progress. Helping families farm more productively increases food security, conserves the Tarka Valley ecosystem, and reduces practices that aggravate deforestation and land degradation, such as cutting trees for firewood.