Photos

Photographer’s Note

Despite many efforts made by communities, NGOs, governments and donors, food insecurity is still a daily reality in the Sahel region in West Africa. Droughts, floods,long hunger gaps and diseases have become the norm year after year.
Those who are chronically poor, in debt and lacking sufficient assets, struggle to cope effectively with these shocks. The widely variable environmental conditions increase the vulnerability of people and their livelihoods even more.
Toukounous is a small community north of Filingue in western Niger, dependent on herding, uncertain agriculture and trade for livelihoods. The community has three women’s groups which between them have been involved in the following food security related activities: a cereal bank, a credit mutual,collecting funds for sharing by members, producing cheese.
Individual women also collect firewood, haul water, sell cakes and other food items to fund food and other needs. The groups are now interested in seeing if they can grow and produce oil from sesame seeds, and are also looking for support to install a garden near the community. The three women’s groups pursue both a diversified strategy to meet food needs, and actively seek out new opportunities to enhance their overall food security.

Photo Information
Viewed: 1582
Points: 34
Discussions
Additional Photos by Alberto Piubello (albertopiubello) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 346 W: 43 N: 877] (2591)
View More Pictures
explore TREKEARTH