NIGER: WHAT'S IN A NUMBER?

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000197 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SOCI PREL PGOV EAID SUBJECT: NIGER: WHAT'S IN A NUMBER? REF: 06 NIAMEY 1255 ¶1. Summary. Setting his sights on an improved position for Niger on the United Nations (UN) Human Development Index (HDI),Government of Niger (GON) President Mamadou Tandja chose a February 13 launching ceremony for the 2007-2008 HDI World Report as an occasion for experts to inform Nigeriens about the methodology used to calculate the HDI. While the GON totally rejected the 2006-2007 HDI World Report placing Niger 177 (last) on the HDI (reftel),the President has found position 174 less odious. He stated that Nigeriens need to know the nation's weak points, to gain a clearer understanding of what needs to be done for Niger to move up even higher. The official theme of the ceremony was "Fight Against Climate Change: A Human Solidarity Imperative in a Divided World." President Tandja presided over the ceremony, in the presence of the GON Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, other GON leaders, the diplomatic corps, non-governmental organization representatives and members of civil society, to officially receive the 2007-2008 HDI World Report. End summary. ¶2. U.N. Development Program Resident Representative Khardiata Lo N'Diaye (also U.N. System Coordinator in Niger) delivered a hard copy of the world report to the President at the conclusion of her remarks on climate change issues, stating that developing countries pose the least harm to the planet, but will most suffer the consequences of climate change. She commended GON political engagement on climate change issues. GON Minister of Environment and The Fight Against Desertification Mohamed Akotey noted in his remarks that Niger had signed the Kyoto Protocol and is putting in place programs to rehabilitate land and reforest. Subsequently, Niger Carbon Sequestration Expert Adamou Souley Massaoudou presented a slide show on various GON activities: rehabilitation of deteriorated land, planting of gum arabic trees, community engagement in environment-friendly investment contracts and a carbon sequestration project launched in 2005. ¶3. Next Director General of Statistics Abdoullahi Beidou presented a slide show exclusively on the HDI. President Tandja expressed hope that Beidou's presentation would make clear to viewers of the evening news, what Nigeriens must do to move up several positions on the HDI. He wanted to know what five countries were immediately ahead of Niger and those nations' respective scores on various elements, insisting that Nigeriens had no time to waste and needed to work harder to move up several more places next year. He expressed gratitude to GON workers and donor partners for the interventions that contributed to Niger's moving up three places from last year. He noted that better understanding the methodology behind the statistics would help the GON better orient its programs. Tandja initiated a debate by questioning the methodology used to determine the literacy score. He asked Beidou to define literacy, and questioned why Niger's scores were only based on French language literacy. He then asked members in the audience whether they could speak and read with comprehension Arabic and other local languages. Pleased with the response from the audience, he suggested that the data collectors must take into account other languages when gauging Niger's literacy level. A member of the audience noted that the statistics revealed that instability in the 1990s had slowed Niger's development, then the same audience member inquired about the effect the current instability in Niger was havng on development. Tandja at that moment indicated he had to leave, but suggested that other GON officials should stay behind to continue the debate. ALLEN