The Cercle de Réflexion et d’Action pour un Développement Local Innovant, called Cercle. DEV was initiated by Mrs. Maïmou Wali, a social worker specialised in the field of development and non-violent conflict management. She began working in rural areas in Niger in 1996, working with  disadvantaged populations, particularly women and young people.

Cercle Dev is a volunteer network that advocates for the empowerment of young girls and boys as well as women, which operates in Niger and Burkina Faso. It focuses on promoting peace, the socio-economic integration of youth, citizen participation and the empowerment of girls and women. It also develops innovative approaches that value local resources and skills.

The Sports for Development project is  developed specifically to suit the context of Niger’s youth  by the Cercle Dev (lead organisation) and the International Sports Association (as technical partner). The project tests and scales up an innovative approach to youth leadership and mentoring through sport; especially young women and men in the district of Tillabery.

The project was developed in response to the low levels of engagement of young people in Niger in public life and the potential negative impact on the individual – (e.g. low self-esteem), on broader society such as intergenerational tensions and on the system (e.g. exclusion). Through a youth leadership and mentorship component, Cercle Dev and ISA provide opportunities that are life changing for youth. Indeed, the innovative approach establishes valuable partnerships between youth and adults, and on the basis of this partnership, young people benefit from real opportunities to get involved and contribute to their own development and that of their community. The programme is implemented in selected areas of Tillabéry, identified in partnership with local authorities. Cercle Dev already has a base of partners and volunteers in these areas. To achieve maximum learning, the programme focuses on: a) empowerment of girls and b) empowerment of youth in conflict.