Niger's Prime Minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine , received a delegation from the World Bank on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, led by its resident representative, Affouda Leon Biaou . At the heart of the discussions was a major $250 million (approximately 138 billion CFA francs) program designed to transform the country's financial landscape.

A rescue plan for the financial sector

This massive funding aims to achieve two priority objectives in order to stabilize the national economy:

1. Clean up the banking system: Strengthening the resilience of local banks in the face of structural difficulties.
2. Supporting SMEs: Facilitating access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises, an essential driver of growth.

The key figure: Niger's credit-to-GDP ratio is only 13% , compared to a regional average of 25% within the WAEMU. This new project aims to bridge this gap.

Loans or donations? A crucial point to clarify.

A significant nuance was introduced by Affouda Leon Biaou: the entire $250 million package is announced as a grant . This approach, while surprising to observers accustomed to the institution's mixed (loan/grant) financing arrangements, underscores the urgency and the desire to directly support the Nigerien people without increasing the debt burden.

A rapidly expanding cooperation

This new program strengthens an already extensive partnership. In short, the World Bank's presence in Niger can be summarized as follows:

1. A global portfolio: Over $4.2 billion committed.
2. Diversity of sectors: 27 active projects affecting energy, health, education and water resources.
3. Local support: A desire to support structures like Sinergi Niger to better guide the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

The institution's representative reaffirmed his commitment to working hand in hand with the authorities to ensure that these resources translate into concrete and immediate benefits for the population.