In Niger, agricultural training as an alternative to school

February 13, 2018

Credits: Marie Maurel

Their faces are white with the dust of Harmattan. They are serious and taciturn. Youssoufa Yaou and Samaïla Djimraou, respectively 15 and 16 years old, are sons of farmers like 80% of Nigeriens. They have just completed their training at the Integrated Agricultural Training Site (SIFA) in Lokoko in the Dosso Region.

The NGO Swisscontact, , specialized in vocational training, set up 28 of these SIFAs in four regions in Niger: Dosso, Maradi, Tahoua and Agadez. They provide initial vocational training throughout eight months - four on the site and four in the field of the learner - and up to now around 6,500 young Nigerians have benefited of this system.