Africare Staff from Niger Discuss Food Crisis in West African Region

Africare, the oldest African American led humanitarian organization focused exclusively on aid to Africa, will welcome to Washington, DC members of our staff from Niger, West Africa. Africare Niger Country Representative, Al-Hassana Idriss Outman and Niger Administrative Officer, Marie M. Aughenbaugh, will share their perspectives and experiences regarding the recent food crisis and food aid programs in Niger—origins, current state, and the international reaction—as well as ways to avert future crises, at two upcoming panels at Howard and American Universities.

On Wednesday, October 12 at 1 pm, Outman and Aughenbaugh will speak with Africare Food For Development Manager, Ange Tingbo, and Howard University Professor of History Jeanne M. Toungara. Professor Toungara will open and moderate the discussion, "The Politics of Hunger: Lessons from Niger," which will convene at the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center Auditorium at 2218 6th Street NW, Washington, DC.

On Friday, October 14 at 4:30 pm, Outman and Aughenbaum will speak with Africare Food For Development Director William Noble, and American University School of International Service Professor, Steve Hansch, at the American University School of International Service Friday Forum. The discussion, entitled, "Feast or Famine? Food Aid in Africa: Niger, A Case Study", will take place in the School of International Service Lounge located on Ward Circle, at the intersection of Massachusetts and Nebraska Avenues NW (see map).

Panelists will share their philosophies of food aid and also provide careful analyses food aid initiatives and foreign policy—what works well; what doesn't and why; what can we do to improve programs in the future.

Africare has worked on the front lines of several humanitarian emergencies in Africa since 1970. Africare started in 1970 when a small, dedicated group of American volunteers responded to one of the most severe droughts in history in Niger and the Sahel region by providing medical aid. Since 1970, Africare has provided more that $540 Million in aid to Africa. All are welcome to attend these events.

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