Dar-Es-Salaam, Niger- In the heart of the Dosso region, approximately 72 kilometers southeast of Niamey, the village of Dar-Es-Salaam is transforming its future. Once defined by hardship, this peri-urban community, largely reliant on agriculture and livestock, now finds itself at the forefront of a green energy transition. Like many rural regions in Niger, Dar-Es-Salaam faces intense climate pressures: erratic rainfall, shorter growing seasons, and persistent droughts. But through innovation and partnership, change has begun to take root.
That change took shape through the Renewable Energy Powered Water-Food-Economy Nexus for Sustainable Livelihoods in the Dosso Region, (RETODOSSO) project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).
Dar-Es-Salaam, now one of the project’s key pilot sites, is living proof of what is possible. Solar energy powers homes, public lighting, and water supply systems, helping to reduce the time women and children spend fetching water.
Oumarou Gado, one of the village dignitaries spoke with quiet pride: “Before, getting water was a daily struggle for both our families and our animals. Women used to spend hours walking to distant wells. Now, they can fetch clean water quickly, safely, and close to home. Even our livestock has easy access to water. This project has truly restored dignity to our village.”
“This initiative has truly changed our lives. We used to walk long distances every day with donkeys just to fetch water, pulling it up manually from deep, open wells. It was exhausting and left us with little time for anything else. Today, thanks to the solar-powered system, we use that time to work, care for our families, or run small businesses. Now, our children have electricity in the evenings. They can study at home without struggling in the dark. We are truly grateful’’ said Roukayatou Amadou, a representative of the local women’s group.
Professor Emmanuel Wendsongré Ramdé, Executive Director of WASCAL, expressed heartfelt satisfaction as he addressed the community. “Seeing these children study under electric light reminded me of my own childhood, struggling to read by candlelight, or sometimes with none at all. What this project gives is more than energy; it gives these children a chance. Who knows, maybe one of them will become the future President of Niger.” He spoke.
The aim of the RETO-DOSSO research project is to contribute to sustainable livelihoods in the rural areas of Niger by creating essential basics and enabling rural entrepreneurial activities. To achieve this, the researchers use electricity from renewable sources to provide basic needs such as water and food. Surplus electricity from a decentralized solar energy system strengthens rural economies by generating simple but creative business ideas as local sources of income.