The proposed project is in line with Phase 2 of the Niger Government's Renaissance Programme and the Economic and Social Development Programme (PDES) 2017-2021, which operationalises the former. It is also one of the landmark projects and programmes of the National Transport Strategy (SNT, 2011-2025) selected to strengthen and preserve the national road heritage and support the productive sectors of the national economy. The project, to cost UA 29.46 million in total, concerns: (i) the development and asphalting of the Tamaske-Tahoua road section on a linear distance of 35 km via the Kalfou-Kolloma stretch; and (ii) the asphalting on a linear distance of 30 km of the Tamaske-Mararraba stretch, which is the unpaved portion of the Madaoua-Bouza-Keita-Tamaske-Tahoua road. This second stretch is part of the Madaoua-Tahoua road that the Bank had financed as part of the Tibiri-Dakoro and MadaouaTahoua Road Project. Kolloma town is located 10 km from Tahoua, at the western end of the project road, on National Road 25 (RN25), which links the west and south of the country to Agadez region. By virtue of its location and characteristics, this project will contribute to building resilience in a region that, although having high economic potential, sustains major factors of fragility. It will open up several localities in Tahoua region with high agro-pastoral potential, thereby contributing to revitalising the local economy and strengthening the access of the vulnerable and poor (particularly young people and women) to basic social services and economic opportunities. The project will also help to interconnect RN1 and RTA (Tahoua-Arlit Road), two important roads of the classified road network.

The project's overall objective is to facilitate national and regional level trade through the accessibility of the Madaoua, Bouza and Keita Divisions and Tahoua Region. Specifically, the project aims to improve the service level of the Tamaske-Kalfou-Kolloma road, including the Tamaske Mararraba section, which will help to develop the agricultural potential of Tahoua Region and facilitate access to factors of production and basic social services. By fostering the creation of job opportunities and improving income, the project will help to build resilience in the local population of its impact area, especially the poor, women and young people. Since it offers alternatives to migration mostly to the region's very young population, the project will also contribute to reduce migration.

The project's potential beneficiaries are the Keita and Tahoua Divisions, including Tamaske and Kalfou councils and Tahoua I sub-divisional council, serving a total population of 400,000 people. At completion, the project will have positive leverage on the local population, particularly women and young people, in terms of job opportunities, higher income, and enhanced access to basic social services (health centres, schools, markets and other facilities developed). Consequently, these will contribute to building resilience among the vulnerable and poor segments of the population.

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ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF AfDB

The Independent Review Mechanism (IRM), which is administered by the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU), is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an African Development Bank (AfDB)-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the IRM, it may assist you by either seeking to address your problems by facilitating a dispute resolution dialogue between you and those implementing the project and/or investigating whether the AfDB complied with its policies to prevent environmental and social harms. You can submit a complaint electronically by emailing crmuinfo@afdb.org, b.kargougou@afdb.org, b.fall@afdb.org, and/or s.toure@afdb.org. You can learn more about the IRM and how to file a complaint at https://www.afdb.org/en/independent-review-mechanism/.