Niger, a land-locked country covered by the Sahara Desert, has been hit extremely hard by the climate crisis. Frequent and extreme droughts and floods significantly impact the soil, crop production, and availability of drinkable water. With a population of around 20 million, 84% of people live in under-resourced rural areas, and more than 50% lack access to safe drinking water. Additionally, 50% of children under five years old are chronically undernourished. Border closures, sanctions, and limited aid due to the recent coup led to increased food prices and decreased food accessibility for a population already struggling with food insecurity. 

One Day’s Wages partnered with Rain for the Sahel and Sahara to empower and train women farmers from historically marginalized ethnic groups to manage garden plots and fruit trees at three community gardens. The women learned environmentally sustainable agricultural practices, and how to turn subsistence agriculture into profitable enterprises. Fruit-bearing trees were planted in the gardens to improve food security, diversify local food sources, and improve soil quality.  As a result, the women harvested over 2,000 kilograms of fresh produce this year!  They were able to sell 85% of the produce, while the remaining 15% of nutritious fruits and veggies was consumed by their families.