NGO “Coeur Citoyen” , “OCC” in short, is a structure under Nigerien law, created on September 1st 2017 and officially recognised in 2018 by Order No.000515/MISPD/ACR/DGAPJ/DLP of the Ministry of Interior, Public Security, Decentralisation and Customary and Religious Affairs.

The organisation wants to fight poverty in Niger in general and promotes the socio-economic integration of disadvantaged social groups, such as the elderly, women and children in Niger in particular. The NGO ” Coeur Citoyen ” specifically intervenes in the following areas:

• Promoting human rights for disadvantaged groups (women, children and the elderly)
• Combating begging, delinquency and youth unemployment
• Promoting peace and strengthening social ties
• Supporting for the girl’s schooling
• Creating of income-generating activities for disadvantaged social groups.

The project Coeur Citoyen-Citizen participation operates in three municipalities of Illéla  called Badaguichiri, Tajaé, and Illéla, all situated in the Tahoua region. The project promotes the civic participation of elderly people in Illéla in managing their own local affairs through the creation of inclusive dialogue platforms.

The project also promotes the inclusion of older people by focusing exclusively on the promotion and enhancement of the human potential of older people. This is to motivate their citizen participation in development reform actions.

In this regard, the NGO Coeur Citoyen carries out advocacy and lobbying actions with local government and private structures in the thee municipalities through awareness-raising workshops and training sessions on the need and importance of collaborating with older people for inclusive  development.