Social protection programs are often the first response to food insecurity and climate shocks.Thanks to the adaptive social protection program in the Sahel financed by a multi-bilateral trust fund and integrated by the International Development Agency (IDA), the emergency response to the drought was activated and over 100,000 families were able to benefit from monthly transfers urgent need to compensate for the poor harvests that have affected the entire country. The government, with support from the World Bank and other partners, used early warning satellite data to identify drought-affected areas and intervene early through unconditional monetary transfers. “Currently, climate change affects our lives in many ways; when there is not enough rainfall during the rainy season, we have to be really patient,” explains Adiza Saydi, a mother of five, who has invested in horticulture.Like thousands of families in Tagaza municipality, Adiza has had to struggle to find the water needed for its crops following a disappointing rainy season in 2021. Faced with record increases in food and fuel prices, and the impacts of climate change on crops, the very survival of his community members was threatened by food insecurity. Thanks to the adaptive social protection program in the Sahel financed by a multi-bilateral trust fund and integrated by the International Development Agency (IDA), the emergency response to the drought was activated and over 100,000 families were able to benefit from monthly transfers urgent need to compensate for the poor harvests that have affected the entire country. Social protection programs are often the first response to food insecurity and climate shocks.However, in this case, the innovation was based on a preventative approach.The government, with support from the World Bank and other partners, used early warning satellite data to identify drought-affected areas and intervene pre-emptively through emergency monetary transfers. Located in the heart of the Sahel, Niger has suffered repeated droughts leading to a growing food insecurity problem over the past 20 years.The first country in the region to develop a trigger-based adaptive social network system to respond to droughts, Niger succeeded in providing early assistance to affected families. Adiza and other families also benefited from additional training and seed funding to help them build savings and invest in income-generating activities during the off-season. “With my savings, I have enough to buy the food I need,” explains Adiza, with a broad smile.“I was able to purchase a motor pump which helps me a lot in watering my crops. This has changed our lives!” ____________________________________ SOURCE
