US pledges additional $44m to Niger to address food insecurity

The United States has pledged to disburse additional $44 million to Niger to help the West African country address food insecurity.

The announcement was made by Victoria Jane Nuland, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, following a meeting with President Mohamed Bazoum in a capital Niamey on Wednesday.

“I had a rewarding conversation with the President about continuing to work together to achieve our common goals, and I am equally encouraged by the President’s work to improve transparency in governance, support social inclusion, education sector reforms, and his commitment to regional security,” she told the media.

“We also discussed the challenges of our time, including the food crisis and food insecurity and we reaffirmed our mutual condemnation of the war provoked by Russia against Ukraine and its repercussions on the world food supply causing the rise in food prices and exposing millions of Africans to an increased risk of starvation,” the US official added.

Nuland indicated that the US aid agency, USAID is collaborating with several partners, including the World Food Program (WFP), to provide to support to Niger which is struggling with food insecurity.

“To this end, we have announced an additional $44 million in assistance for Niger to protect vulnerable populations from the effects of food insecurity and build resilience. In addition, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MMC) has approved a $504 million Benin-Niger Regional Compact to reduce transport costs along the corridor between the port of Cotonou in Benin and Niamey,” she said.

WFP estimates that more than 1.9 million people in Niger were affected by severe food insecurity in 2020. Another 1.5 million are estimated to be chronically food insecure, and millions more experience periodic food shortages during the lean season.