Niger’s population is 70% illiterate and only 54% of female primary school students reach sixth grade. To address this gap in education, the Government of Niger is implementing an ambitious national education program to increase educational access, quality and retention.

USAID is contributing to these objectives, building on results achieved through an earlier collaboration with Millennium Challenge Corporation, with programming that fosters a reading culture and early grade reading in local languages; an improved school environment, especially for girls; increased parental engagement; and strengthened community linkages with education administration. Additional support for an impact evaluation of these activities aims to help the Ministry of Education make data-based policy and program decisions. In 2013, the U.S. signed on to the partnership framework in support of the Government of Niger’s 10-year (2014-2024) national education and training sector program.