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Nigérien NGO Launches Decentralization Awareness Campaign

By Whitney Huss

July 20, 2007

Being a network, RAV partners with other local and international organizations and identifies artists and development specialists to design artistic and cultural initiatives that spark dialogue on the local level. Supporting partners have included Plan International, UNICEF, USAID, UNICEF, Coopération Française, German Development Cooperation (DED), Oxfam Quebec, and Eau Vive, among others.

RAV uses the performing arts to tackle stigmatized issues in an unthreatening manner. Where other consciousness-raising and development methods may fail, the performing arts and specifically, Theatre for Development (TfD), grant accessibility of pertinent messages to all spectators, not only those with formal education experience. As Niger's national literacy rate is 15% for women and 43% for men, theatre serves as a common language for all and introduces the possibility for change on the local level [2]. Furthermore, Africa's storytelling traditions lend an atmosphere conducive to using theatre to educate. RAV has recognized this and past projects include raising awareness on issues such as HIV/AIDS, girls' education, women's empowerment, capitalism, and most recently, decentralization.

RAV is currently in the planning stages of a two-day theatre festival to take place in Niamey in September. The creative team behind the festival includes notable Nigérien writers Alfred Dogbé, Idi Nouhou and Saley Boubé Bali. Through various Theatre for Development techniques, the writers will demonstrate advantages of decentralization and democratisation in the five districts of Niamey.

During Niger's independence in 1960, the country was divided into 36 provinces and 265 districts [3]. These provinces were headed by state-appointed governors. At this time, all decisions, including those concerning local issues, had to be addressed at the ministerial level. Described as "development from the grassroots," President Mahamane Ousmane (1993-1996) encouraged decentralization [4]. But, like many promising initiatives, bureaucracy and financial strain plagued any further action to propel decentralization into place.

After the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) created by the IMF and World Bank in 1996, Niger was provided partial debt relief after showing veritable progress toward a free-market economy [5]. Consequently, in June 2002, several new decentralization laws were passed. These laws determined to which degree the regions, departments, and communities should intervene and decide on local issues. Therefore, many of the national responsibilities were transferred to the district and community level, imparting power closer to the citizens and providing a more concrete framework to effectively fight poverty, in alignment with the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) [6].

Though the decentralization process was formally established in 2004, many Nigériens are simply unaware that it is possible for them to have a voice in their local government. Through the decentralization awareness festival, citizens will be informed about the laws and encouraged to adopt an active role.

RAV will provide publicity and support as well as counsel the creative forces. The principal communication tool to be used for the festival will be Forum Theatre, a form of popular or participatory drama. Created by Brazilian director and activist Augusto Boal in the 1970s, Forum Theatre is widely practiced in Sub-Saharan Africa [7].

Throughout July and August, the creative team will devise certain storylines to be presented to spectators that demonstrate the benefits of the 2004 decentralization laws. For example, after the Forum Theatre facilitator briefly explains the laws, a local theatre troupe will demonstrate various interactions between citizens and the district government. The facilitator then encourages spectators to become a part of the scene, improvising more scenarios. Thus, spectators are given a chance to "rehearse" active citizenship. To reinforce RAV's mission of adapting artistic initiatives to local contexts, the performances will be conducted in the local language of Djarma, as only 20% of Nigériens speak French, the country’s official language [8].

The IIJD commends the Réseau des Arts Vivants for using participatory approaches that encourage bottom-up initiatives. As an organization devoted to fostering sustainable development on the local level, we hope to see the decentralization project replicated in other districts throughout Niger.