There is a solid momentum for new PARM activities in Niger. In view of the official launch of the second phase of PARM (2019-2024) in Niger, the Platform organized a country mission from 20 September to 4 October 2019 in order to engage key partners’ interest in PARM Horizon 2. The mission has focused on three areas jointly identified with the Government of Niger (GoN) during phase 1: i) Capacity Development, ii) Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) and contract farming linked to the food security national plans iii) information systems for farmers.

As a main outcome of the mission, the Government and partners have:

• Confirmed their interest in continuing to work with PARM on the three areas of focus from the first phase;
• The Government has requested PARM to design a fundable ARM project for Niger that will encompass the package of tools and address each of its components, which are to be financed by multiple donors – already identified or to be identified by PARM along with the GoN and its High Commissioner for the 3N Initiative (HC3N);
• The Capacity Development (CD) partners have expressed their interest in continuing to create and disseminate knowledge on ARM within their programmes and to be part of a larger national and regional strategy on Agricultural Risk Management (ARM);
• The HC3N and PARM have agreed to develop a partnership agreement to define the roles and responsibilities of each party for PARM Horizon 2. This will serve to increase efficiency and apply lessons learned in the first phase.

The next steps will include following up with the HC3N on some of their requests and setting up the mapping studies to be undertaken. PARM will liaise with HC3N and key partners (French Development Agency, IFAD, European Union, Italy, NEPAD, etc.) to start the process with the studies and understand the modalities and steps to kick off the process of developing a partnership agreement.

COVER PHOTO CREDIT:
©PARM/Carlos Acosta