Food and Nutrition Resilience in Focus at NEEMA Roundtable in Niamey
On April 15, the Abdou Moumouni University in Niamey and the Université Djibo Hamani of Tahoua organized a high-level roundtable on Food and Nutrition Resilience as part of the NEEMA Project. The event brought together 16 key participants, including representatives from the NEEMA project, political leaders, and experts in Food and Nutrition Resilience.
The roundtable aimed to foster collaboration among stakeholders and outline strategies to address Niger’s food and nutrition challenges. Key objectives included presenting the NEEMA programme, assessing the current landscape of food and nutrition resilience, promoting synergies among actors, and generating actionable recommendations.
The NEEMA programme was presented in detail by Prof. Hachimou OUMMA and Dr. Zakaria YAHAYA, covering objectives, structure, methodology, and its budget.The presentation sparked discussion around the program’s partnerships, training modalities, and the need for additional funding. Participants emphasized the importance of leveraging past initiatives, such as the former High Commission for the 3N Initiative.
Dr. Alhassane AZAOUA highlighted opportunities for technical and financial partnerships, noting potential collaboration with the EU Delegation (DUE), reaffirmed support from the PISA 2 program, and internship possibilities with PtF members. Increased visibility of NEEMA and contributions to policy frameworks, such as the agricultural law discussed at the February 2025 national conference, were also recommended.
Mr. Mansour MOUSSA, National Coordinator of PISA 2, shared insights from the program, emphasizing its three pillars: agricultural investment, infrastructure development, and monitoring. The need to scale up small-scale irrigation using solar energy, promote large-scale water infrastructure, and engage the private sector was underlined. These approaches aim to boost agricultural productivity, foster economic growth, and ensure sustainable food and nutrition resilience.
In closing, all participants unanimously called for stronger coordination and national ownership to ensure the sustainability of the NEEMA project and broader food resilience efforts in Niger.
About NEEMA
NEEMA is a 36-month capacity building project of Ulysseus European University funded through the ERASMUS+ program. It aligns with the European Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy, adapting these frameworks to the unique challenges of the Sahel and West Africa.
Led by the University of Seville, NEEMA aims to enhance food and nutritional resilience, focusing on vulnerable populations. The project involves 14 universities across Africa and Europe, fostering collaboration, designing contextual curricula, and launching pilot initiatives to strengthen local capacities in food security and sustainability.