PRESENTACION AREA COOPERACION PARA EL DESARROLLO

1
Republique du Niger
Republique dItalie
Keita Integrated Project
2
Context

In 1984 the Sahel region was afflicted by one of
the most severe drought spreading famine and
death.
This ecosystem was characterized by the
development of moving sand dunes, the
disappearance of the brousse tigré and the
decreasing of millet and sorghum yields.
In this environment the Keita Project become
operational as result of a partnership between
CILSS, Niger, Italy, WFP and FAO.
3
The Keita Arrondissement, part of the Tahoua
region, is located 600 km East of Niamey, in the
center of the Republic of Niger, covering an
area of more than 4,860 km2. Starting 1991 the
project has been extended its activities from
the Keita Arrondissement to an area of almost
13,000 km2.
The total population increased from 65,000
inhabitants in 1962 to 330,000 in 2000

• The soudano-sahelian climate
• short rainy season
• (June - September) represents
• one of the main limiting factors
• due to the intra-annual and
• inter-annual variable rains
• yearly rainfall average
• between 300 and 400 mm

4
The final goal of the project is the sustainable
development of the area by the rehabilitation of
the ecological and socio-economic environment
In 18 years the project has been funded with more
than 90 million US Italy
65 million WFP 12
million FAO 0,3
million Niger 5
million Local population 10 million
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Project Strategy

• Integral management of watershed (UTE)

• Utilization of various techniques of soil and
  water conservation .

Tranchées
Banquette de plateau
Seuils
Lacs collinaires
Protection des koris

Banquette de glacis
Périmètres irrigués
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Participative approach

• Implication of the population
• in project implementation and
• in the management of the
• achievement

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Interventions on the ecological and
socio-economic environment
Land reclamation for forestry scope
18,758 for
Agro-forest-pastoral scope
15,280 Total land reclamation (ha)
34,038
Dams
40
Weirs 253
Plantations (number of trees)
18,000,000
Reservoirs for fishing
29
Road infrastructure (km)
312
Hydraulic infrastructures Wells for irrigation
574
Village wells
95 Small artificial basins
70 Drilled wells

4
Social and sanitary infrastructures
Schools
52 Dispensaries
12 Granary, storage 152
Village boutiques 71 Granary and
mills 57 Saving and Credit Rural
Bank 1 Rural Radio Station
1
Village Committee Women Groupement
178 Peasant Groupement
152
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Conclusions

The economic impact already achieved by the
Keita integrated project shows the important
relations existing between the desertification
and poverty.
By this end the integrated approach followed by
the project shows its validity and represents an
example to be followed in alleviating poverty in
a sustainable way.
Women proved to be the key factor in making the
project capable to respond to the people needs
and to support the demand for development.
The environmental impact of the project,
followed since from the beginning by the
Project staff in cooperation with Italian
research institutions, has proved the
importance of the Keita achievements not only
for Niger but also for the international
community.
The fight against desertification and poverty in
order to reach real success demands -
physical and financial resources - long term
engagements.