Locals gather at a money saving project in Niger.
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world and one of the most sparsely populated.
Less than half the population has access to safe water and only 29 per cent of the adult population can read and write.
Following providing emergency relief in the food crisis of 2005, CARE is running a food crisis early warning system in Niger. This brings together information gathered by the community, government and private monitoring agencies.
Women's savings and loans
Our ground-breaking Mata Masu Dubara project (Mata Masu Dubara meaning 'ingenious women') trains women to save and pool money in groups, so they can use it as a buffer in hard times.
Many also take out loans to start small businesses, such as buying seeds to plant crops to eat and to sell, so they can work their way out of poverty.
Earning a decent living
Most Nigeriens are subsistence farmers struggling against a harsh climate, so CARE focuses on helping them develop skills to survive the increasing threat of drought.
We help farmers find other means of income, and encourage them to grow vegetables so they do not have to rely on selling crops of millet and sorghum which hardly ever provides a viable income.
We also help to make the land more productive by planting trees and laying rock lines to trap water.
