Since May 2024, the Government of Niger has partnered with the Solina Consortium comprising Solina Health, AFENET, and ROASSEN to implement the Gavi EPI LMC initiative, a targeted effort to strengthen leadership, management, and coordination (LMC) systems across routine immunization. These systems are foundational to efficient service delivery, yet persistent challenges have delayed funding flows, planning cycles, and vaccine reach.
To support the government’s vision, the Consortium has worked alongside national and regional health teams to embed data use, strengthen supervision structures, and reinforce accountability at all levels.
Turning Diagnostics into Direction
Between March and May 2025, district EPI teams, with technical support from Solina, conducted assessments in 152 Integrated Health Centers (CSIs) across 15 districts in Tahoua, Tillabéri, and Dosso. Findings revealed:
- Over half of CSIs had staff shortages and untrained surveillance personnel
- Only 55% had updated microplans
- In Tillabéri, 66% of vehicles were nonfunctional
- Data validation tools were underused
- 78% of outbreaks were undocumented
These insights enabled districts to prioritize four areas: supportive supervision, workforce capacity, EPI operations, and data use. Reforms were sequenced into two waves: immediate, high-impact actions followed by longer-term system improvements.
The Launch of Tillabéri CCIA
On 11 June 2025, the Tillabéri region launched its Inter-Agency Coordination Committee for Immunization (CCIA). Chaired by the Governor, the CCIA reflects Niger’s commitment to locally led coordination and brings together health authorities, municipal leaders, civil society, and development partners including UNICEF, WHO, and UNFPA.
The inaugural session featured a situational analysis presented by the Regional Health Directorate, highlighting coverage gaps in Penta 3 and VAR2, outreach barriers, and logistics constraints. In response, stakeholders co-developed a regional accountability framework aligned with national strategies.
The Tillabéri CCIA now drives:
- Decentralized coordination mechanisms
- Data-informed microplanning
- Multi-sectoral accountability
- Community-led last-mile delivery
Momentum and Early Results
As a result of multi stakeholder action:
- Tillabéri has implemented 74% of first-phase action points
- Tahoua has launched 66% of its priority reforms
- Quarterly review meetings in Tahoua and Dosso are institutionalizing peer learning and local problem-solving
Additional CCIAs are scheduled for Tahoua and Dosso by Q4 2025. Development partners are encouraged to align support with these coordination platforms to reinforce system-wide progress.
These local reforms are reinforcing the government’s efforts to build a more responsive, resilient immunization system in Niger.
