Niger

CISP has been operating in Niger since 2006 through development and humanitarian response programs implemented in collaboration with local institutions, civil society organizations, and communities. The organization works to strengthen resilience, social inclusion, and sustainable development through interventions in the sectors of culture and cultural heritage, food security and nutrition, WASH, urbanization and social housing, as well as employment and income generation, with a specific focus on youth and vulnerable groups. Furthermore, since 2008, CISP has developed a strong specialization in promoting culture as a driver for economic development and social cohesion, leveraging cultural heritage, cultural and creative industries, and local skills as tools for inclusion and job opportunities.

Approach

CISP’s approach in Niger is based on community participation, local capacity building, and the enhancement of territorial and cultural resources. Programs are developed through participatory processes that foster local ownership, sustainability, and the strengthening of community and institutional systems. The organization also promotes an integrated approach linking humanitarian response, development, and the creation of economic opportunities, working alongside public authorities, universities, local professionals, youth, community organizations, and the private sector.

Culture for Development and Cultural Heritage

Culture represents one of the defining elements of CISP’s work in Niger. The organization promotes the safeguarding and valorization of tangible and intangible cultural heritage as a lever for local development, social inclusion, and economic opportunities, with particular attention to youth. Through cultural programs, CISP supports vocational training, the development of cultural and creative value chains, the transmission of traditional knowledge, and the promotion of local identities. In Agadez, CISP has promoted interventions to protect and enhance UNESCO heritage, contributing to the preservation of historical heritage and strengthening its potential as a resource for economic and social development.

Social Housing, Sustainable Urbanization, and Earth Architecture

CISP promotes inclusive and sustainable urban development models through participatory approaches, the improvement of urban spaces, and the promotion of local construction techniques. The organization supports the use of earth architecture and low-environmental-impact bioclimatic solutions, promoting social housing, the strengthening of local technical skills, and resilient construction practices. Through programs such as Urbanisation for Change, CISP contributes to more sustainable urban growth, fostering housing quality, socio-economic inclusion, and participatory urban planning.

Youth Employment and Economic Inclusion

CISP supports training, employment, and local economic development pathways, with a special focus on youth. Through programs centered on cultural heritage, urban regeneration, and labor-intensive community works (HIMO – Haute Intensité de Main d’Œuvre), the organization promotes economic opportunities and the strengthening of local professional capacities.

WASH, Food Security, and Community Resilience

CISP implements interventions aimed at improving access to water, sanitation, and essential services, integrating food security, nutrition, and resilience-building for the most vulnerable communities. Interventions combine infrastructure, awareness-raising, training, and local capacity building.