Niger

Located in West Africa at the heart of the Sahel, Niger has a narrow-based economy that remains heavily dependent on agriculture. Despite ongoing efforts to improve living conditions, poverty remains a major challenge. As of August 31, 2026, Niger had more than 1 million forcibly displaced persons (refugees and internally displaced persons), and displacement has continued to rise over the past year.

Political Context

Since the coup d’état of July 26, 2023, Niger has been governed by a transition government led by General Abdourahmane Tiani. In May 2025, President Tiani established the Consultative Council for Refoundation (CCR), an advisory body designed to guide the country’s refoundation process.

Relations with Algeria improved markedly in 2026, as President Tiani made a state visit to Algiers and the two governments signed more than twenty cooperation agreements in March, including a relaunch of technical work on the long-planned Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline to carry natural gas from Nigeria through Niger to Algeria's coast. The border with Benin remains closed, though relations have likewise improved. Beninese President Romuald Wadagni visited Niamey in June 2026 — the first such visit since the 2023 coup — and the two governments agreed on a roadmap toward eventually reopening the border; Niger has also maintained development engagement with European partners, including the European Union.

Niger continues to face insecurity in several regions, including Liptako-Gourma (Tillaberi region) and the Lake Chad Basin (Diffa region), where attacks persist. Armed groups in the southern and western parts of the Dosso region continue to commit violations against civilians, including pipeline sabotage, kidnappings, extortion, and violent raids. These activities have exacerbated the security crisis and affected local communities. The government remains committed to promoting peace and stability, with the aim of reducing violence and fostering lasting reconciliation.

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In 2026, growth is estimated at 7.0% (3.1% per capita), supported by oil production, agriculture, mining, investment, and private consumption. Inflation is estimated at -1.9%, helping reduce poverty to 47.7%. Over the medium term, growth is projected to remain above 6%, while downside risks include climate shocks, security pressures, and liquidity constraints.

Growth was revised upward, reflecting stronger extractive activity and investment. On the supply side, agriculture is projected to contribute 2.5%age points (pp) to growth, supported by favorable rainfall, improved fertilizer availability, and expanding irrigation. Industry should contribute 1.9 pp through sustained oil production and recovering mining activity, while services contribute 2.4 pp through stronger market services and domestic demand. The current account deficit is projected to narrow to 4.5% of GDP, supported by higher oil, uranium, and gold export values.

On the demand side, private consumption and investment are projected to contribute 4.5 pp and 3.5 pp to growth, respectively. Inflation, estimated at -1.9%, reflects lower food prices following a favorable agricultural season, while the pass-through of higher international oil prices remains limited because of domestic oil production, refining capacity, and administered fuel prices.

Revenue mobilization is projected to strengthen, supported by oil revenues and tax reforms. However, the fiscal deficit is expected to widen to 3.4% of GDP in 2026 as spending increases on security, post-flood reconstruction, and support to vulnerable households. Debt management improved through bond-market reprofiling and arrears clearance, moderating debt vulnerabilities.

Growth is projected to average 6.4% in 2027-28 as oil production stabilizes and the economy transitions from the initial oil-export boom toward a more diversified growth model. Agricultural output should benefit from continued irrigation investments and improved fertilizer availability, while industrial activity remains supported by sustained oil production and rising uranium and gold output. Together, these trends are expected to broaden growth and export earnings beyond oil, strengthening economic resilience over the medium term. Inflation is projected to return to 2.0% by 2027 and remain within the WAEMU target range. The fiscal deficit is expected to narrow to 3.1% of GDP by 2028 through stronger revenue mobilization and continued expenditure restraint.

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Health

The World Bank supports Niger in improving access to health care, combating malnutrition, and empowering women and girls. Key results include access to health and nutrition services with nearly six million women and children under five having benefited from health and nutrition services. Improved infrastructure and equipment with the construction of 35 new health facilities and rehabilitation of 168 integrated health centers.

Energy

The World Bank–Niger partnership mobilizes $1.2 billion to finance one national and four regional projects, including the Kandadji Dam program, aiming to provide electricity to more than 4.5 million people. In addition, in June 2025, Niger adopted the Compact under the World Bank-African Development Bank M300 initiative, committing to reach an electricity access rate of at least 60% by 2030. About 905,000 gained access to electricity since January 2026.

Agriculture

With IDA support, the Bank promotes food security, climate resilience, and agricultural modernization through the following: (i) The Sahel Pastoralism Support Project (PRAPS) mobilized $110 million, vaccinating over 42 million livestock and restoring nearly 700,000 hectares of pastoral land; (ii) The Food Systems Resilience Program (PRSA), with $60 million, supported seed and fertilizer distribution and provided agro-hydro-meteorological information to about 72,000 producers; and (iii) the Irrigated Agriculture and Livestock Intensification Project (PACIPA), designed as a $1 billion multi-phase program (MPA) through 2036, is a flagship initiative. Its first phase targets 18,000 hectares of irrigated land, improved crop and livestock genetics, modern technology dissemination, and agricultural financing. The Regional Support Project for Pastoralism in the Sahel (PRAPS-2) strengthens the livestock sector.

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The government has developed a Resilience Program for the Republic (PRR) for the period of 2025-2029, which has been officially approved in October 2025. The PRR aims to ensure the well-being of all Nigeriens by reducing both national and multidimensional poverty.

Aligning with the government's Program for Refoundation of the Republic (PRR) for 2025-2029 the Niger FY26-31 CPF is organized around an overarching goal of "More and Better Jobs," with three mutually reinforcing outcomes and one cross-cutting outcome: 1) a healthier, better educated, and skilled population; 2) increased access to electricity; 3) improved agricultural productivity and food security; and 4) as a cross-cutting outcome, on macro-fiscal management and access to finance and markets. Over the CPF period (FY26–FY31), expected results include 8.4 million people receiving quality health and nutrition services (UHC); 0.3 million students supported with better education; 4.3 million people gaining access to electricity (Mission 300); 2.5 million people with strengthened food security; and US$241million private capital mobilized.

As of September 2026, the World Bank is financing 23 operations in Niger — 13 national projects and 10 regional projects — with total commitments of $4.6 billion in grants and loans. Investments are concentrated in water, transport, energy, and agriculture. The portfolio also covers governance, education, health, urban development, social inclusion, environment, digital and finance.

Niger Country Partnership Framework (CPF) FY26-FY31

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IFC supports private sector growth in Niger by helping SMEs get better access to finance, strengthening the capacity of MSMEs and financial institutions, improving the business environment, and supporting investments in telecommunications and energy infrastructure.

As of September 2026, the IFC investment portfolio stands at $ 56.8 million, mainly concentrated in the financial and infrastructure sector. Key IFC portfolio projects include long-term financing for Airtel Niger, to expand digital connectivity and for BOA Niger to increase access to finance for MSMEs. In FY26, IFC and BOAD signed a reciprocal loan agreement to expand local currency financing across the West Africa Monetary Union, including in Niger, which is expected to increase the availability of local currency funding for Nigerien businesses. On the advisory front, IFC is supporting the government of Niger in structuring a 50MW PPP project under the scaling solar program. Other advisory activities include capacity-building programs on investment readiness to 4 local firms under the local champion initiative.

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