Niger NIamey, May 2012

School children in Dalaweye village, 50 km from Niamey the capital. The Dalaweye Primary School is one of the 700 selected for the school feeding programme in Niger. Daleweye School was created in 1988 and since becoming canteen school in 2006, the school’s performances have dramatically improved. Truancy and drop-out rates are nil. For the past four years the school always has 100% pass at the final exam. “Teachers, parents and schoolchildren are not stressed anymore with lack of food; we are much more concentrated on teaching and helping children to express their full capacity. We know how difficult it is for parents to feed their children. The school canteen is a great asset for everyone involved;” says Mahamadou Aladji, the school headmaster. In Niger, erratic rains and pest infestation resulted in failed 2011/2012 agricultural campaign with a cereal deficit of more than 500,000 metric tons. Up to 750,000 people have been classified as severely food insecure by the government and the number is expected in early 2012, as the country moves towards the lean season in March – April. Families have still not recovered from the food crisis of 2010 and as a result, lack coping mechanisms to carry them through the 2012 harvest season. Households are likely to resort to selling off their few remaining assets. The continued support from our donors has made such great impact, ensuring that poor families in Niger have an incentive to send their children to school where they will get a nutritious meal.

Photos: WFP/Rein Skullerud