The United States and Niger: A Strategic Partnership

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s travel to Niger on March 16, 2023, is the country’s first visit by a U.S. Secretary of State.  He will meet with President Mohamed Bazoum and Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou.  Secretary Blinken’s visit to Niger following the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit is a recognition of our robust bilateral relationship with a key partner on democracy, governance, and regional security.

U.S.-Niger Relations

• Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1960, the United States is proud to partner with Niger in the country’s efforts to consolidate democracy and foster inclusive economic growth for the benefit of all Nigeriens and the broader Sahel region. The U.S.-Nigerien relationship is focused on strengthening peace and security, food security, democratic governance, respect for human rights, education, and a vibrant civil society in West Africa.
• The United States recognizes Niger’s humanitarian leadership – continuing to maintain open borders to those fleeing conflict – at a time of increasing border closures and restrictions on movement globally.

U.S. Support to Niger

• U.S. foreign assistance to Niger seeks to improve food security, build counterterrorism and peacekeeping capacity, sustain security sector reform, support productive agricultural enterprises, promote democratic governance, address climate change, support justice sector reform, improve health and education, and strengthen security sector education and training.
• In 2022, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Board of Directors voted to approve the agency’s first-ever concurrent regional Compacts, with Niger and Benin respectively. The proposed regional Compacts are designed to reduce transportation costs and improve operations along the corridor between Niamey and the Port of Cotonou in Benin.
• Niger’s $442 million Sustainable Water and Agriculture Compact with MCC is in its final year and projects include the largest irrigation perimeter, satellite imaging, and hydrogeological assessments.
• The United States has plans to provide $101 million in bilateral FY 2022 assistance to Niger for food security; education; democracy and governance; and health and security assistance. This includes $9 million in supplemental funding to address increased food insecurity.
• Niger has been a target country for Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s flagship global hunger and food security initiative, since 2013. In Niger, Feed the Future invests in sustainable water security, livestock, climate-resilient agricultural production, new infrastructure, market access and natural resource management.
• The United States also provided nearly $135.4 million in bilateral humanitarian assistance to Niger in FY 2022. The U.S. is the largest single donor of humanitarian assistance in the Sahel region and globally.
• The U.S. remains the leading donor to the regional refugee response in the Sahel. The U.S. provides life-saving assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons, and vulnerable host communities in Niger, including those fleeing conflict and instability.
• Niger is the largest recipient of State Department military assistance in West Africa and the second highest in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Pandemic Response and Health Diplomacy

• In September 2022, USAID announced new funding for Niger totaling $44 million to respond to the food insecurity crisis that has been made worse by a combination of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate shocks, protracted conflict and humanitarian crises, and above-average global food prices.
• In partnership with COVAX, the United States provided 1,435,860 safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses to the people of Niger – free of cost. This includes 629,460 Pfizer and 806,400 Johnson & Johnson doses.
• Through the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, USAID and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working to reduce malaria infections and death rates in the country. USAID supports Niger’s National Malaria Control Program to implement the national malaria control strategy.  This support also includes help to improve the program’s diagnostic and treatment capacities.  USAID provides support to the National Office of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Products to improve stock management of medicines to prevent or treat malaria, rapid diagnostic tests, and bed nets.

Climate and Energy