Child Sponsor Niger

Become a child sponsor in Niger by checking out these ethical child sponsor programs and empower children, strengthen communities, and help rebuild lives. The sheer scale of the need in Niger is difficult to overstate. High rates of malnutrition, particularly among young children, undermine physical and cognitive development, trapping families in a cycle of poverty. The educational system is overburdened, and many children, especially those in rural areas, are forced to leave school early to contribute to family income or simply lack nearby access to safe learning environments. Basic healthcare is often inaccessible or unaffordable. Data from infant mortality rates to educational attainment reflect the daily crisis affecting children in Niger in a country in 189th place out of 193 nations and territories in 2025 when ranked in terms of life expectancy, literacy, access to knowledge and the living standards.

Those who survive early childhood are at risk of exploitation and human trafficking for a life of begging, enforced working in in gold mines, domestic servitude and also for working in agriculture and stone quarries. In fact an estimated 8,800 to 43,000 people in Niger live under conditions of traditional slavery. This already bleak situation is compounded by regular Tuareg rebellions and droughts across the region that destroy crops and animals; their only source of subsistence living. Despite these challenges, the spirit of Nigerien children endures. As one aid worker in Niamey observed, “Even in the toughest circumstances, the children here carry hope in their smiles - they dream of learning, growing, and building a better future.” Their determination underscores both the immense challenges they face and the transformative potential of greater investment in their education and well-being.

Child Sponsor Niger

SOS Children

With SOS Children, you can help orphaned and abandoned children by sponsoring a child.
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WorldVision

A child sponsor program where you can exchange cards, letters and photos with your sponsored child.
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Remember Niger

Ensuring more children receive a high-quality education in the world's least developed country.
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Plan

With Plan you form a unique connection with a named child and their family in Niger.
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Children's Charities

A guide to the main children's charities working with children and communities in Africa.
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Your Project Here

List your child sponsor in Niger project here for free by contacting us using our contact form.
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Volunteer Work

Check out all the latest fee paying and free volunteer work placements and opportunities in Niger.
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Niger Profile

For information, videos and photos of the country of Niger Niger, check out our Niger profile pages.
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The average age in Niger is just 15 years old, with just under half the population being aged 0 -14 years old. Most of Niger's population lives in poverty, and their homes are small mud brick huts, overcrowded and without basic services such as electricity, sanitation or water. In fact, 64% of the country's village population lack access to safe water, with what is available at risk of contamination due to almost non-existent sanitation systems outside urban areas, causing many illnesses, including diarrhoea and typhoid fever.

During the 1990s and 2000s, international organisations such as CARE, Save the Children, World Vision, Oxfam, and various UN agencies established a strong presence in Niger, partnering with local NGOs to promote resilience and reduce dependency on aid. These partnerships played a vital role in combating malnutrition, improving access to schooling, and supporting rural livelihoods through sustainable farming and microfinance initiatives.

In recent years, NGO activity has also focused on addressing the impacts of climate change, population growth, and insecurity in the Sahel region, particularly in areas affected by displacement and conflict.

However, today, there are relatively few child sponsorship programs in Niger due to persistent security challenges, particularly in regions affected by extremist violence and instability along the borders. These conditions make it difficult for international NGOs to operate safely and consistently. Additionally, limited infrastructure, widespread poverty, and logistical hurdles further complicate the implementation and monitoring of sponsorship programs, leading many organisations to focus instead on broader humanitarian or community-based aid initiatives.

What programs there are focus on building schools, providing food aid and supplies such as seeds to develop sustainable farming methods, improving access to safe water supplies and providing care to orphaned and abandoned children. You can help when you sponsor a child in Niger. As one 15-year-old girl stated, “Everybody in our family wants me to go to school. I want every girl in Niger to be educated.”