Background – According to World Bank statistics, Niger is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. Income, life expectancy and literacy rates are lower than almost anywhere else. In contrast, population growth, and the number of people living in poverty are both high. The prospects for the future are rather bleak, particularly for the young people. It starts with the absence of schooling and vocational training, and then the lack of jobs leads them down the path towards absolute poverty. Many leave to seek their fortune in another country –an equally uncertain enterprise– others slide into criminality or extremism.

Project – The goal is to give unemployed young people another chance in the labor market by holding short vocational courses for them; these last an average of one month and also encourage their integration into society. Working closely with the National Office for Vocational Training and private partners in Niger , Swisscontact is developing modular lessons on the subjects of food, motorcycle maintenance and tailoring. Courses are being offered in the sectors that have the greatest potential in each of the respective regions. Alongside practical expertise, the curriculum also includes reading and writing, as well as health-related themes, prevention, or even the reality of migration. Having completed their training, the young people receive professional advice and support in looking for jobs. Those who wish to set up on their own will receive the necessary coaching. The population is kept informed about the courses through local radio and the importance of vocational training is instilled in their minds. The long-term goal is to integrate these activities into the national vocational education program, because a properly trained workforce is a powerful weapon in the fight against poverty.