URL : http://www.agter.asso.fr/article578_fr.html
NIGER. Rural Code. Paper 1 : Introduction to the Educational Package and Bibliography
About twenty interviews were carried out to create this set of educational tools. The film was shot in about three weeks in June 2010, just before wintering. It was edited in September, and additional documents were written. The first screenings of the film took place in November in Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal.
Systems for the management of natural resources currently undergo some redefinitions, and decentralization policies are progressively being implemented in West Africa. In this context, it is crucial to contribute by informing local, national or regional discussions with specific examples, while avoiding preconceived patterns : this educational package was designed in this perspective. Readers and viewers should find here some useful input to feed their questioning about their own reality.
However, the Nigerien Rural Code example is a deliberate choice. This original process succeeded, through 20 years of participatory approach, in reducing both the number of land conflicts and their violence. It also contributed to improve patterns of governance at the different territorial levels. The Rural Code is now a benchmark for rural development policies in Niger.
The thematic papers and the film have been designed as two complementary tools : the papers will help viewers to look further into some of the topics that the film deals with, and provide practical data (facts and figures, diagrams, maps, etc…) about the reality of Niger’s Rural Code.
The papers are meant to foster a more theoretical and critical approach to the reality of the Rural Code. They are a key tool for moderators to lead discussions with the audience and go further into the debate.
The main film is not meant to present the Rural Code in full details, but provides useful input for discussions about how to implement a policy for the management of natural resources. Viewers can also compare their situation with the specific Nigerien one.
By presenting some of the most frequent categories of land disputes in Niger, as well as the main institutional and technical tools designed to respond to those conflicts, the film provides some practical examples. It presents the work carried out by the different local land commissions. The film deliberately emphasizes the voice of the different stakeholders that participate in this process on a daily basis : farmers, herders, traditional chiefs and local officials are the main characters of the film.
The film does not pretend to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the Rural Code’s system, but invites the audience to question the whole process.
Niger Facts and figures
http://www.who.int/countries/ner/fr/
http://www.unicef.org/wcaro/WCARO_Niger_Factsheet-12-fr.pdf
http://www.unicef.org/french/infobycountry/niger_statistics.html
Political, economic and social studies and newsfeed on Niger
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/pays/niger/niger.asp
Rural development policies in Niger
Newsfeeds on rural development in Niger
Food security in Niger
Agricultural policies in Niger
The Rural Development Strategy (Stratégie de Développement Rural - SDR) website
Niger’s Rural Code legal texts
Documents introducing and analyzing the process of the Rural Code (in French)
The sector-specific law on pastoralism
Studies and reports on pastoralism
http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/agpc/doc/Counprof/frenchtrad/Niger_fr/Niger_fr.htm
This glossary below is meant to help all users understand the material contained in this educational package. It offers simple definitions for technical terms that are used in the film or thematic papers. The definitions we suggest are adapted to the Nigerien context, and supplemented when possible with examples drawn from the Rural Code’s experience. They are not meant to be exhaustive definitions for complex and often many-sided concepts. Terms are listed in alphabetical order.
The educational kit contains :
Paper 1 - Introduction to the Educational Package and Bibliography
Paper 2 - An Introduction to Niger
Paper 3 – The Rural Code : Definition, History and Objectives
Paper 4 - Rural Code: legal and institutional framework
Paper 5 – The Rural Code and the Pastoralist Issue
Paper 6 – Progress Made by the Rural Code
Paper 7 – Shortcomings of the Rural Code and Challenges for the Future
This kit comes with a film realized in June 2010, just before wintering : “From conflict to consultation : the Rural Code experiment in Niger” (running time : 39 minutes with 5 additional bonuses). The film is available in English, French, Fulfuldé, Haoussa, Djoula and Wolof. To have a copy of the film, please contact us.