Mamane Guizo's Journey , from Insecurity to Stability in Batafadoua

In the rural village of Batafadoua in the Maradi region, families are facing chronic food insecurity due to the effects of climate change and soil erosion. The infertile land no longer provides enough food for families, and it is the children who suffer the most.

Mamane Guizo, 48 years old, father of 12 children and husband of two wives, says:

"Climate change and erosion made our soil infertile. We produced little and were always food insecure. Our children are the most affected." 

To provide for his family, Mamane was forced to flee to Nigeria: "I fled to Lagos, Abeokuta, and Ibadan, just to find enough to support my family." 

Even his small butchery business wasn't enough: "The butchery was my lifeline, but whatever income I earned was quickly swallowed up by my family's needs. I was always on borrowed time."

But in 2019, the arrival of the Maradi Integrated Resilience Project (MIRP), funded by the World Food Program (WFP) and implemented by World Vision Niger, marked a decisive turning point: "This project really provided solutions for me and my village. It gave us work and resources that changed our daily lives." 

Mamane was hired as a tracer on land reclamation sites. He received 32,500 CFA francs per month for five months, and 19,500 CFA francs as a bonus during the rainy season."I used this money to run my business, feed my family, and even save money." »

Thanks to this income, Mamane was able to stay in the village, improve her family's life, and invest in livestock farming: "The project's activities have allowed me to rebuild my life. Today, I have three cows, nine goats, and eleven sheep. My children eat enough, and my wives have even started raising small ruminants."

The project's impact extends beyond the family economy. It also affects education: "My daughter has been a scholarship recipient for two years. Thanks to this scholarship, she is studying well. She has been admitted to sixth grade."

Today, Mamane lives in renewed stability, surrounded by his family, with a rebuilt livestock population and improved food security: "I lack the words to express my gratitude when I see its impact on my family and that of the other villagers."But needs persist: "We are applying for the establishment of a market garden now to provide our children with richer foods," he concludes.