Netherlands Initiative for Capacity development in Higher Education (NICHE)
06 feb 2012
NICHE is a Netherlands-funded development cooperation programme aimed at strengthening institutional capacity in developing countries for providing post-secondary education and training.
The programme focuses on sectors that are supported under the Dutch Bilateral Cooperation Programme, in the higher education sector in general or in cross-cutting themes. In all cases, the relationship with the post-secondary education sector is taken into account.
NICHE pays special attention to gender issues and to the link between capacity development and the needs of the labour market at all programme levels.
Support to Requesting organisations
Requesting organisations will be assisted by coupling the expertise of Dutch organisations with local or regional expertise. A variety of organisations in NICHE countries can be eligible for support including institutions for post-secondary education, government ministries, national commissions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The selection of NICHE priority areas is done in coordination with the Embassies of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the respective NICHE country and with the relevant local ministry.
Geared towards local development policies
NICHE replaces the Netherlands Programme for the Institutional Strengthening of Post Secondary Education and Training Capacity (NPT). The programme sets out to ensure that the activities funded by both programmes are in line with the development policy of the recipient countries and that they match local priorities.
Countries participating in the NICHE programme
The following countries are participating in the NICHE programme:
In the following former partner countries ongoing NICHE projects will be completed, but no new projects will be launched:
Nuffic may explore the possibilities of initiating NICHE projects in the following countries:
- Afghanistan
- Burundi
- Palestinian territories
NICHE flyer
Download the NICHE flyer in English (142 kB)
Download the NICHE flyer in Spanish (125 kB)
Download the NICHE flyer in French (120 kB)
