Photo by RET

Article by RET Team in Niger

NAMARI N’GOUNGOU, NIGER – Living in a village in the Sakoira commune, Tillabéri region of Niger, Mrs. Aissa Bouba is a married mother of seven children—two boys and five girls—and also cares for three nephews. She is a member of the Soudji Bangay Cooperative, which specializes in purchasing, storing, and selling paddy rice.

Before joining the cooperative, Aissa was selling small quantities of fried snacks and paddy rice, earning a modest 2,000 CFA francs per month. However, her life took a turn when she was selected to join the cooperative as part of the “Promoting Access and Retention of Girls in Quality Primary and Secondary Education and the Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women for Inclusive and Peaceful Development” project.

Photo by RET

Through this initiative, the cooperative received training in income-generating activity (IGA) management and financial support to launch their business activities. The cooperative’s profits enabled members to access loans to invest in their own IGAs and increase their income. This strategy helped Aissa secure a 50,000 CFA francs loan, repayable over 10 months, to expand her paddy rice business.

“When I joined the cooperative, I received a loan of 50,000 CFA francs to strengthen my purchasing power for paddy rice,” says Aissa. “At first, I bought ten sacks of paddy rice, repackaged them into smaller portions, and sold them weekly at the Tillabéri and Bonféba markets. At the end of each month, I now earn a profit of 100,000 CFA francs. Sometimes, I also invest in other food products like cowpeas, millet, and baobab leaves to sell, increasing my earnings.”

Thanks to the project, Aissa has gained financial independence and significantly improved her family’s well-being.

“I now provide for my children’s school supplies and daily needs, allowing them to focus on their education. I also helped my husband build a bathroom for our family. Currently, I am constructing a storage facility for my rice stock using my earnings. My improved financial situation has also allowed me to join three savings groups, contributing to positive change in our village.”

Aissa is deeply grateful for the project’s impact on her life and encourages other cooperative members to follow her example.

“I sincerely thank this project for supporting our village. I encourage my sisters to invest in their own IGAs. It is essential for us to keep the cooperative running even after the project ends, as our well-being depends on it. This initiative is a priceless gift to our community, and we have a duty to sustain it.”

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