Urban ARK Stakeholder Workshop Report: Niamey, Niger

The workshop was attended by 30 diverse stakeholders including lecturers UAM in Niamey, Researchers, PhD researchers, Save the Children representatives, state services, NGOs and other Associations. The goal of the workshop was to (i) review the Status of research in Niger (ii) define operational indicators for the research project focused on flooding in Niamey. Following Dr. Soumana Boubacar’s (UAM lecturer and Urban ARK research lead), SCI Representative Deborah Taylor thanked the participants for attending. The opening remarks of the workshop were delivered by Prof. Marichatou Hamani, Vice Dean of the Faculty. After lunch, Alex Barcena (PhD Researcher, King’s College) introduced Urban ARK’s international dimension. This intervention was followed by that of Dr. Dan Tankari Badjo Aderhamane who discussed pollution risks in Niamey.

In addition to these presentations,a Skype communication was conducted by Professor Mark Pelling (Urban ARK Principal Investigator, King’s College London). Participants were moved by the encouraging words of Prof. Pelling who also used the opportunity to raise important questions. The next presentations focused on the research project led by Dr. Soumana Boubacar in collaboration with King’s College and Save the Children International. These presentations were followed by group work which allowed all stakeholders to contribute to the definition of indicators to measure the components of stability at the household level, particularly in relation to children and to discuss these a group. Finally, the Vice Dean gave the closing speech and thanked all participants and highlighted the significance of the project.