The World Bank is preparing a financial sector support and SME financing project aimed at stimulating Niger’s economy, according to Affouda Léon Biaou, the institution’s resident representative in the country.
He made the announcement following a meeting on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, with Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine.
Biaou said the initiative is a project “with a total amount of $250 million in grants.”
He added that discussions with the prime minister focused on “the presentation of technical discussions that took place with the various stakeholders involved in the project,” as seen on Ecofin Agency.
Don’t Miss This:
Rockefeller, World Bank Fund Solar Projects Across Six African Countries To Boost Agriculture
The project is expected to enable banks to expand lending to local businesses, particularly through medium- and long-term financing.
It could also support the development of new financial products tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises to ease liquidity constraints and improve access to credit.
In Niger, SMEs account for nearly 98% of active businesses but continue to face viability challenges due to limited access to financing, restricting their role in job creation and wealth generation.
Don’t Miss This:
World Bank Tribunal Orders Niger To Halt Uranium Sales From Seized Somaïr Mine
Image Credit: Naijapreneur
