The role of NGOs in the development of the countries of Niger and Burkina Faso cannot be underestimated. Their suspension of funding by France endangers many projects which aimed to improve the lives of local populations. The consequences of this suspension are already being felt and NGOs are sounding the alarm.
According to Olivier Bruyeron, president of Coordination SUD, many projects are threatened with shutdown due to lack of funding. These include projects to support agriculture in the face of the challenges of climate change, as well as essential services such as health and education. Thousands of people depend on these services every day and it is urgent to find a solution to ensure their continuity.
NGOs also draw on the example of Mali, where French development aid was suspended last year. The consequences are disastrous, as Frédéric Apollin, director of Agronomists and Veterinarians Without Borders, points out. A mobile health service which treated more than 30,000 families had to cease operations due to lack of funding. It is important to be aware of these negative impacts and act quickly to prevent a similar situation from occurring in Niger and Burkina Faso.
Beyond these emergency situations, NGOs are also raising the problem of the increasing politicization of development aid. They denounce the fact that aid is increasingly becoming an instrument of negotiation in international relations. Development aid should above all be a means of combating poverty, and not be subject to economic, diplomatic or political interests.
NGOs are calling on the French government to restore funding and ensure that development aid remains apolitical. They are calling for a debate in the French Parliament to reaffirm the use of development aid in accordance with France’s values of solidarity.
In conclusion, it is crucial to support NGOs carrying out development projects in Niger and Burkina Faso. The suspension of French funding endangers many projects and has a direct impact on local populations. It is imperative to restore funding and ensure that development assistance remains apolitical. The fight against poverty and improving the living conditions of populations must remain priorities in these regions in need of humanitarian assistance.