19-06-2026 | di COOPI

Niger: 3,500 metres of drainage channels cleaned in Tillabéri to prevent flooding

In Niger, between April and May 2026, COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale supported a major drainage cleaning and sanitation operation in six neighbourhoods of the municipality of Tillabéri, located in the Tillabéri region. Conducted in close collaboration with municipal authorities, sanitation technical services, and local disaster risk management stakeholders, this activity aims to reduce flood risks, improve urban sanitation and protect the most exposed populations.

Thanks to the work of 120 workers, 3,500 linear metres of drainage channels were cleaned and rehabilitated, improving rainwater drainage, reducing waste accumulation and protecting homes from runoff and flooding risks. The intervention directly benefits nearly 32,000 residents in the targeted neighbourhoods, mainly women and young people, and contributes to improved hygiene and health conditions while reducing flood risks for more than 62,000 people in the urban area.

This intervention forms part of the flood response component of the Tillabéri Municipality Multi-Hazard Contingency Plan, which identifies the main risks facing the municipality and outlines priority measures to be implemented during emergencies. The plan was developed under the project “REPAR – Strengthening preparedness and local response to multi-hazard shocks in Niger”, funded by European Humanitarian Aid and implemented by COOPI in partnership with Mercy Corps in the Tillabéri and Maradi regions. Launched in May 2024, the project will conclude in June 2026 and has contributed to strengthening local capacities for disaster prevention, preparedness and response, as well as for addressing population displacement.

A project that belongs to everyone

Before the works began, COOPI transferred skills and resources to the municipality, notably through the provision of sanitation equipment and support to the Municipal Hygiene and Sanitation Service responsible for its use. The Prefect and the Municipal Administrator played a central role in mobilising communities through information and awareness-raising campaigns across the different neighbourhoods, encouraging citizen participation and fostering local ownership of the initiative. They also took part in supervising the works alongside municipal services.

According to the Municipal Administrator, the results are already visible:

This operation has made the town visibly cleaner. More importantly, it has helped prevent runoff water from flooding homes and reduced flood risks caused by blocked drainage channels. Improved sanitation also helps limit the proliferation of mosquitoes and, consequently, certain health risks such as malaria.

A territory exposed to climate change

The project responds to a context marked by the municipality of Tillabéri’s high exposure to riverine and pluvial flooding risks. Every year, these hazards undermine living conditions, damage infrastructure and housing, and negatively affect household livelihoods.

In 2025, according to the Tillabéri Regional Flood Management Committee, floods affected 1,450 households in the municipality, caused the deaths of three people and resulted in the loss of 365 head of livestock. The damage also affected 244 hectares of cultivated land, 50 granaries and numerous homes that were damaged or destroyed.

More broadly, in Niger, the living conditions of urban and rural populations are regularly affected by climate-related hazards that are becoming increasingly unpredictable and difficult to overcome due to their intensity and irregular nature. In this context, prevention, preparedness and climate adaptation actions constitute an essential means of strengthening the resilience of the most exposed communities.

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COOPI has been operating in Niger since 2012. To date, the organisation has implemented more than 160 projects, benefiting over 8 million people and contributing to improved access to basic services, strengthened community resilience, and reduced impacts of climate-related crises across various regions of the country.