HALIMA AMADOU Gender Promotion Secretary Nigerien Association for the Defence of Human Rights (ANDDH) NIGER REPUBLIC

Practionners including InWent alumni report on experiences with outside GAS – using indicators to increase political accountability, inform the policy process and political debate.

Actionable indicators: Niger indicator analysis: This analysis of the policy performance of Niger Republic is derived from objective, third party data and information generally the institutions that create and manage the indicators that Millennium Challenge Account uses in the annual selection process. These analyses are the views of non governmental organizations institutions. Analysis is provided for each indicator where the score is below the median. The summary of results identifies strengths, weaknesses, recent events that have already affected or will likely impact indicator performance, and a set of near term and medium term opportunities for improvement as identified by these third party institutions.

Achievement of some or all of these opportunities for improvement will not be a guarantee of future selection since among other things; a country is measured against the performance of other countries.

Ruling justly indicators: We have political rights with a median of 17 and Niger data is 28 (82% ), civil liberties with a median of 30 and Niger data is 32 (60% ), control of corruption with a median of o.00 and Niger data is - 0,11 (42% ),government effectiveness with a median of 0.00 and Niger data is - 0,03 (42% ), the rule of law with a median of 0.00 and Niger data is -0,04 (49 % ) and the voice of accountability with a median of 0.00 and Niger data is 0.25 (60% ).

Increasing accountability Niger Republic’s performance for all available years between 1996 and 2007 in six governance dimensions: Voice & accountability Political stability and lack of violence / terrorism Government effectiveness Regulatory quality Rule of Law Control of corruption

Dissemination: The National Institute of Statistics in Niger, The Millennium Challenge Account, UNDP, Freedom House, World Bank Institute and sometimes Nigerien Association struggling against Corruption (ANLC / Niger Transparency International branch) disseminate their results and datas through reports which end up with recommendations that they did to the government (Ministry of Finance, of Commerce, Education, Health, Women’s Affairs and Child Protection, Agriculture etc…). The government formulates these recommendations in the form of projects and programmes towards populations by building schools close to the villages, giving free health care access, etc… Lobbying and advocacy are made towards the authorities mostly the National Assembly so that some laws can be adopted. Some sensitizations are done as well towards the populations by Civil society Organizations struggling against corruption in order to stop corruption for example.

Ruling justly Corruption The current government has begun to address allegations of corruption among politicians and within the civil service. International and domestic actors will follow the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases over the next year. Corruption in customs also contributes to this score.

Investing in people Girls’ primary education completion rate Primary education is low for both genders but this is exacerbated by a growing gender gap in school attendance. The gender gap is due in part to practical issues such as security and long distances between home and school but also to cultural and social practices like early marriage and laws preventing young mothers from returning to school.

Economic freedoms Trade policy Weighted average tariffs have been improved but are still below the median. Non –tariff barriers include regulation of specific products and corruption in customs.

Cost of starting a business Registration fees for membership with the chamber of Commerce account for more than half the costs of starting a business. Other significant costs related to filling documents with the commercial registry, publishing company formation notices and registering with the National Center for transport users.

Supplemental indicators Land rights and access It takes less to register a property in Niamey (49 days ) than in other regional capitals, but it ‘s still above the global average. Registering a property in Niamey, the Capital is more costly than either the regional or global average(14 % of the property value).

Natural resources management Efforts to combat desertification are only beginning to appear in this data. Niger’s current eco region protection rate is the median. This over- all low score on this indicator is driven by a lack of access to improve water and sanitation as well as child mortality. The impact of poor water and sanitation is particular acute for women and girls in rural regions as they bear responsibility for collecting water.

Gender rights While Niger’s constitution prohibits gender discrimination customary inequality is so pervasive that it constraints political, social and economic participation which cuts across many of the indicators.

How the results were used and by whom: The results are used by government to elaborate development projects and programs; Civil society organizations elaborate projects and sensitizations activities (radios broadcasting activities), rural and urban sensitizations, conferences… Some statistical diaries are elaborated such as education diaries elaborated each year by the two Ministries in charge of education with the support of Unesco; National Institute of Statistics elaborate also documents giving the different indicators.

Sustainability: The datas have to be taken seriously by the government in order to elaborate development projects and programs; The identification of these projects and programs has to be done with the concerned populations; Monitoring and assessment should be done for each indicator periodically in order to check the progresses; Partners (UNDP, UNESCO, World Bank, Islamic Bank for Development etc… should continue to finance and more partners must help to continue these types of works.

Lessons learnt: Reflections must be done specifically for Niger Republic Human Development Index given by UNDP each year in order to avoid Niger Republic always being the last; Government should change its policy concerning education (girls ‘primary education completion rate for example because of early marriages );

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