Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the progress by the (a) EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa and (b) EU Partnership Framework for Third Countries in establishing alternative means of income to the human smuggling trade in Niger.

​The EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa supports projects in Niger totalling €230m, of which €75m supports work on economic and employment opportunities, assisting over 9,000 people to develop economic income-generating activities. The UK welcomes the Fund’s focus on alternative economic activity, which is a key element of a comprehensive approach to tackling people smuggling through Niger. The creation of jobs, livelihoods and longer term stability will take time and commitment.