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Norm Brinkley - Session Leader

Subject Matter Experts on North African Region

• Yazi
• Karen Boyle
• Norm Brinkley

Issues -

Water Dams that were created long ago are causing problems with the natural flow of water. Less than 7% of the people in Niger drink clean water and less than 5% have electricity. There is close to 90% unemployment in Niger. Political instability and poor governing are also big issues in the area. Mauratania has recently discovered oil and it is leading to instability. 50% of the people in this region are 16 years of age or younger. There is a societal divide between the youth and the older people. Water resources are difficult to find and there is virtually no water filtration in place. Water born disease is a big problem that goes along with it. It is only possible to work the land for three months a year when the rain comes and the rest of the year is dry.

Communications -

Physically traveling and talking face to face is still one of the main means of communicating. Cell phones and text messaging are also possible but expensive. Travel by air is very expensive in this region.

Change -

In the 70's the whole of Mauratania was very nomadic and family based society. There where huge droughts that caused a large rural to urban migration and now the country is changing very rapidly in the face of the technology age. There are frequent regime changes and coups. It is difficult to encourage business and growth in this atmosphere.

Businesses -

Niger and Mali - Chris Black has performed training sessions in both countries to about 50 people. The people were very hungry to receive this training and knowledge. This caused the startup of several small businesses. Roughly 60% of those that have received training have started a small business or engaged in a startup. Yazi shared a success story of the people near him receiving the training from Chris Black and they went on to earn money and setup contracts to build a water tower in a village and hook it up to a water filtration system.

Local Mentality -

In these North African countries there is a prevailing mentality that a person has no ability to control or change their own future. "In shala" is a phrase that means "if God wills". This is uttered by everyone as a response to a moment when they would have to consider the future or planning.

Water -

There are three main types of water source in Niger; well, rivers and standing water ponds after the rain. All three are dirty and unsafe. Water filtration is needed in these areas.

Health Care -

There is an average of one doctor for every 30,000 people in Niger. The nearest doctor to Nazi's village is 10 Kilometers away.

Time -

Yazi described that in his culture there is no concept of being in a rush to do something. They feel that there is plenty of time to get the few things done, that they need to do in a day. If someone suggests that there should be a meeting "tomorrow morning", anytime between 6am and 2pm is fine and everyone might show up at different times and no one apologizes for being late, because there is no idea of this urgency.

This post was edited by the author October 2009.

This really was a great session. I can't wait to get involved at the 2010 expo. See you there in September.

This post was edited by a moderator June 2010.