Niger

Niger ranked 167 out of 169 on the World Development Index in 2010 and is particularly susceptible to food security crises. Its food production is reliant on rain-fed agriculture in an ecologically fragile environment that is periodically affected by climatic fluctuation and locust invasions. The country is also vulnerable to fluctuations in commodity prices affecting its mineral exports and to food and fuel prices affecting its imports. Niger experienced a serious food crisis in 2005 and a second major crisis in 2010.

There is an insurgency in the Agadez region led by ethnic Tuareg opposition, and humanitarian access to this part of the country is restricted. Niger has a history of political instability and coups, most recently in February 2010 when President Mamadou Tandja was ousted in a military coup.

Humanitarian aid to the country rose more than ten-fold in response to the 2005 drought, but overall remained at a relatively low level until a second major drought and a large UN flash appeal in 2010, which led to a dramatic increase in humanitarian aid of more than 600%, to a historic high of US$330 million. This increase in humanitarian aid also corresponded with the change in government in early 2010 and a relaxing of restrictions on international actors delivering humanitarian assistance.

In 2011 Niger suffered cholera outbreaks, and many households have struggled to support the thousands of migrant workers returning home due to conflict in Côte d‘Ivoire and Libya, and to contend with the loss of remittance income. Moreover, erratic rainfall and pest attacks in 2011, on top of already reduced productive capacities after the 2010 food crisis, indicate that food security will continue to be a major concern into 2012.