This is where Niger lies within Africa

And this is where Niamey lies within Niger

Niamey is the capital city in a very large country, much of which lies within the Sahara Desert.

Niamey is divided into three communes, two of which (Communes 1 & 2) make up the WWC area #1412.

This map shows the exact shape of Commune 1

And this, the exact shape of Commune 2

Commune 3 (to the south and west) is small and is also worth investigating if only to find out what bits of Niamey are not included in 1412. (BTW Commune 3 forms part of WWC area #1413:

1413. Niger - Niamey capital district: commune 3 & Tillabery department: Kollo and Tillabery arrondissements

Also, once we know which List B area it is that is to be WWC area #1413's partner, it may well be important for WWC area #1412's partner to try and make a lateral link, so that the two List B partner areas might share their ideas and possibly share in planning some projects.

When we look at a map of the Tillaberi subdivision of Niger, we can see what a very tiny area WWC area 1412 actually covers. It is not even the whole of the tiny landlocked area inside Tillaberri arrondissement, which itself makes up only about one tenth of Niger's land area.

But though small, 1412 is very densely populated. It has to be, since one of the basic conditions for the WCP is to have WWC connection areas of a similar population size.

I now see that I've spent 50 minutes getting this far.

Now just a few more facts before I post this on Ned.

The wikipedia entry is useful in providing all the basic information - a francophone country on the border of Saharan and Sub-Saharan Africa. Often the native language entries in Wikipedia are much more informative. So here is the French-speaking version of the Wikipedia main entry on Niger. On the surface, it doesn't seem to be quite so thorough - certainly less graphic - but the pictures may be contained in the many, many links.

That will have to do to get us started.

Ideally, after the WCP is launched, WWC areas might each form their own CARG (Connection Area Research Group) to undertake work like this.

:)

edited to fix link