Topic: 2024-Supply Chain Stability
Country: Niger
Delegate Name: Avery Weber
Supply Chain Issues – Niger
Niger is heavily impacted by stalled supply chains even though it is not a major player in the global supply chain. Niger heavily relies on energy, food and agricultural supply chains to supply enough imports, regional trade, humanitarian aid, and limit global commodity price fluctuations.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Niger’s food and agriculture imports were deeply affected. Niger relies on $10 billion of food imports like rice, fish, wheat, grain, and vegetable oil from neighboring countries like Nigeria and Algeria. The pandemic led to breakdowns in supply chains that limited the availability of imported food and increased their prices. With 44.1% of the population living under the poverty line, inflation led to an increase of food insecurity and hunger.
Niger is one of the world’s poorest countries and is highly dependent on international humanitarian aid to address issues like malnutrition, food insecurity and healthcare challenges. The pandemic led to significant delays in deliveries of humanitarian aid due to disruptions in transportation and conveyance of food and basic medical supplies. Many international humanitarian donors focused their attention on pandemic-related problems in other parts of the world, and stopped transporting humanitarian aid and food to Niger. Some organizations continued to operate, but the overall level of support decreased when Niger needed it most.
Niger would support resolution that safeguard the supply chains that deliver its requirements for food, healthcare, and energy. In case of another pandemic, extreme weather event or other supply chain disruption, Niger needs protections to ensure its supply chains continue to deliver its basic living requirements such as food, healthcare supplies, and energy.
