In Niger’s remote communes, the rising issue of water scarcity is a concern for many. As the weather patterns shift, the people of the Dosso district are finding it harder to have safe and secure sources of water. With a limited number of options, many are willing to go to great lengths to find water, in order to get by day-by-day.

For some people, the act of fetching water entails a whole day’s work. This is the case with Fatima Dankani, who spends six to eight hours a day collecting water and transporting it back to her village, which is one kilometer away from a well that the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) programme of UNCDF recently rehabilitated in the commune of Dan Kassari – an area so distant from any city it has no paved roads and borders Nigeria.

Before the rehabilitation of the well, Fatima used to have to travel four to five kilometers for water, taking her more than 12 hours for less water and, at times, the well would be dried up upon her arrival.

“Ever since the well has been rehabilitated, there has been a difference in my life.” Fatima said. “I bring water for two families - mine and my husband’s. All together, there are seven people that depend on me on daily basis. I cannot let them down.”

Fatima, who is 22 with three children, tried to carry 10 gallons per day, back and forth to her home. Sometimes her son, Nazir, accompanies her on these long walks, but he is too young to carry anything. During the dry months, she has to sometimes make the same trek five times a day.

“My family and I have benefitted greatly from this well. I am thankful, as it has reduced my suffering. Previously, the children would cry if they have to go with me to the well, at the same time I couldn’t leave them as there was no one to take care of them, especially the younger ones.”

Fatima’s son, Nazir, might not be from the village, but he has tagged along with his mother enough times to make friends with the village’s children. Playing, while in his mother’s sight, when the water is drawn and packed into two yellow plastic gallons, with a long strap attached in between them, which she carries with diligent balance. She says its better that way, for her and for the wellbeing of the child.

“Whenever a well opens up, many of the people from neighboring villages come to it to fetch water, which makes the demand higher.” She continued.

Dan Kassari is a rural community of Niger belonging to the department of Dogondoutchi in the region of Dosso. As of 2010, it had about approximately 72,000 inhabitants. However, some people at the rehabilitated well travel from places that are farther away for it. With the rain patterns changing, there is no telling which wells will provide water. This unpredictability makes the need greater.

The rehabilitated well is designed in a way to ensure minimum loss of water when drawing. A drain encircles the well where most of the falling water drips down the edges of the construction and is collected in pan-shaped structure for the transportation animals and livestock to sip on some fresh water. A technique that not only supplies water to the animals, but also decreases the amount of water carried back, as it no longer needs to be split

Although Fatima does not have animals that help her transport the water, she is very thankful for LoCAL’s rehabilitation of this well as it has made the experience so much easier and replenished many of her village’s needs. “When my children grow up, they can help me,” she said.

Sophie De Coninck, the Progamme Manager of LoCAL in Africa, explained: “Fatima’s story illustrates well how addressing climate variability and change also answers basic development needs like access to safe drinking water, or gender issues. While working to improve local knowledge and understanding of climate risks and vulnerabilities to better inform adaptation choices, LoCAL Niger has taken a pragmatic approach to support the local government capacity in dealing with the climate change effect and started increasing the resilience of the most vulnerable populations through ‘no-regret’ adaptation measures, with many more to come.”