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Niger is a vast country located in the heart of the Sahel region. Niger has, in recent years, also been grappling with a significant influx of refugees fleeing conflicts in the region, particularly in Nigeria and Mali. The next presidential and legislative elections are scheduled to take place in , preceded by municipal and regional elections.
Security conditions have deteriorated in recent years, particularly in the areas bordering Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Mali, where armed groups have established bases and carry out repeated attacks against the security forces and civilians. The goal is to help preserve and scale up economic and social development in Niger by tackling the obstacles that impede growth and poverty reduction efforts.
These projects support the development of several sectors:. Moreover, Niger benefits from special financing mechanisms from the International Development Association IDA , which were designed to help low-income countries respond to a significant flow of refugees, as well as additional financing aimed at addressing factors contributing to fragility and violence. In recent years, IFC has committed to identifying the means to support private sector development in one of the most challenging markets in Africa. In , the Management Advisory Service MAS launched an irrigation project in the agrifood sector to spur private investment in irrigated agriculture as part of the Sahel Irrigation Initiative.
Efforts were intensified in late with the organization of the Niger Renaissance Conference in Paris, which garnered large-scale participation by the private sector. Building on this momentum, in early , the MAS team established consultative support for about 20 small and medium enterprises in order to enhance their ability to mobilize funds for local financial intermediaries including IFC clients. The World Bank is providing technical and financial support to the education sector to boost human capital in Niger.
These efforts have helped expand access to education, increase pupil retention rates, and improve the quality of the teaching staff as well as learning outcomes in basic education and vocational training.
According to a PRODEC assessment finalized in late , the entrepreneurship training offered new professional opportunities to Over 1 million people in total have benefited directly from the project, which has resulted in several achievements:. Moreover, 67, pupils of the 86, targeted by the project had access to an improved sanitation system in their schools, and latrines were constructed for teachers.
Displays of anger are witnessed more frequently. It should be noted that most displays of emotion are acceptable since Nigeriens see them as an integral part of human nature. When men meet, they greet each other warmly. It is rare that men and women have any contact in public and displays of affection or anger do not seem to be acceptable.
When you go to work you should always dress well. Men have fewer problems than women, who are usually not well regarded when they wear pants or miniskirts. Ideally, women should wear traditional wraps or full-length business suits. You should always speak in a soft voice when addressing colleagues or supervisors so as to not give the impression that you are pestering them.
Punctuality is not highly esteemed; people may be absent for no reason whatsoever and later apologise for it.
Moreover, productivity is usually low, particularly in the case of people who work in public administration. How to dress for work: Casual dress is fine. Light clothing preferably cotton is needed in order to tolerate the intense heat. How to address colleagues: staff and supervisors use the informal French word for you "tu" and call one another by their first names. The more formal French word for you "vous" is mostly used depending on the age of the person to whom you are speaking.
Punctuality and absenteeism: punctuality and reliability are highly regarded. Lateness and absenteeism are rare and justified when they do occur. How will I know how my staff view me? The qualities that are most highly regarded in a local superior include open mindedness, friendliness, respect for colleagues, flexibility, and tolerance. Colleagues often like their bosses to spoil them with small gestures, such as gifts or money. There is no difference between expatriate and non-expatriate supervisors; respecting the previously mentioned characteristics is what counts for employees.
A straightforward way to know how employees feel about their supervisor, is to look at their daily attitude and how well they complete their assigned tasks. The more they dislike their supervisor, the less efficient they will be and the less likely it is they will carry out their duties quickly. This means that he treats his staff equally and does not grant privileges to certain people. A second quality would be expertise. In other words, he has skills that will benefit the community.
In many cases, a manager or an expatriate brings in operational funds. This makes a big difference in relations with the staff. In this situation, the boss is often respected because of the money that he brings in. In Niger relationships are generally straightforward and direct.
The way the staff view their boss or their supervisors is usually very clearly stated and is often the topic of conversation among people. If in doubt, simply ask and normally the answer will be given quite readily. Is it acceptable to go to my immediate supervisor for answers or feedback? Decisions are usually made by a superior whose employees then carry them out.
Nonetheless, sometimes employees will be reminded of the decision-making process when superiors hear rumours that people are expressing certain ideas. It is always important to go to your superior for questions or feedback, this protects employees from certain abuses since it was the boss who told you what to do.
Decisions that require a team effort are usually made following discussion groups with the staff in question. Consulting a direct supervisor to get answers or feedback is common practice.
Niamey, the capital of Niger, is a lively fairly modern city of around on the banks of the Airport Porters: Porters in the airport are determined to try to help you carry your bags, Good date place because of its romantic atmosphere. Map of flooded areas in Niamey, Niger - update 16 september Date:Sep ; Source(s):Institute of Biometeorology - National Research.
What impact would the above attitudes have on the workplace? Gender : Youth, in particular, like to have fun; there is no sexual assault, but most men act rather silly when they see women. Religion : With regard to religion, the majority of the population is Muslim and strictly follow its rules such as regularly attending prayers and observing Ramadan. Class : Different social classes do exist and even affect marriage, as a girl who belongs to a caste may not marry a man who comes from an aristocratic family and vice versa.
Classes often contribute to social barriers. Ethnicity : Previously, ethnicity was a major problem; however, today all ethnic groups live together in perfect harmony. Gender: In Niger, there really is no such thing as gender equality. Men tend to dominate all spheres of activity. Girls have less education than boys. Traditions often force them to marry when they are very young and restrict them to domestic duties such as fetching water that is often located at quite a distance and grinding millet.
Boys do not have the same pressures to do this kind of work. There is little contact between non-married adult males and females, and there is a clear division between groups of boys and girls. When men and women gather together, women tend to stick to one another and will not speak very often. These inequalities are prevalent in all regions, but are especially obvious in rural areas. Few women work outside the home. When they do work with men, they tend to be very reserved and play lesser roles.
Religion: The majority of the population are devout Muslims.
Prayers and rituals are very important. The same goes for observing traditions. As in the case of gender, it is easy to openly talk about religion, but opinions must be respected.