Despite certain improvements over the last decade, maternal and infant mortality indicators in Niger remain worrying. The maternal mortality rate is 520 for 100,000 live births and, in 2021, the rate of infant mortality is estimated to be 72 ‰, with average rates even higher in rural areas. This situation can be partly explained by the poor quality of available healthcare in Niger and inappropriate health and eating practices, particularly among women and children (births that do not take place in healthcare structures, very little prenatal care, etc.). To address this situation, the Nigerien government drew up the 2017-2021 Health development plan. Its main objective is to reduce maternal, infant and child mortality by improving availability, accessibility and quality of healthcare provision.

Tillabéri has one of the highest levels of infant mortality in Niger. The security situation there is fragile and can impact accessibility and availability of healthcare.

The project aims to improve access to good quality maternal and infant healthcare, as well as sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in five communes in the Filingué health district, in the Tillabéri region. To do this, it plans to boost the capacities of healthcare actors at several levels of the health pyramid.

The project teams intend to strengthen community relay persons’ and healthcare staff’s capacities in the area of maternal and infant health and SRH, by training them, equipping them with material and providing technical support for referencing and management of inputs.

The Filingué health district’s governance will also be strengthened via financial and technical support to carry out joint supervision of the structures it coordinates, facilitate sectoral health meetings, and manage inputs.

GRET is leading the project, which started in March 2023 and will last 3 years.