“The fact that a new high school graduate can now enroll from their village, using only a phone and without having to travel, perfectly illustrates the tangible impact of digitalization on inclusion and equitable access to education. This partnership with UNCDF and the Ministry of Higher Education shows how local innovation can evolve into a national model for more modern and transparent institutional governance,” said Sidikou Boubacar, CEO, I-Futur. I-Futur, a Niger-based fintech specializing in web and mobile applications collaborated with UNCDF to deploy its iPayMoney solution, a digital payment aggregation platform that enables students across the country to complete their enrollment more easily, efficiently, and transparently.

This vision of using digital innovation to make higher education more inclusive and transparent is already taking shape, and the early results are exceeding expectations. At the Dan Dicko Dankoulodo University of Maradi (UDDM), one of Niger’s nine public universities, this bold step toward digitalization has delivered more than just convenience. The introduction of the iPayMoney platform with UNCDF’s support has improved fee collection, reduced errors and enabled students to pay remotely, unlocking over 130 million CFA francs (approximately $208,000) in additional revenue. This increase reflects faster, more efficient registration and payments, leading to tripled application rates, and reducing registration time from weeks to just 48 hours.

This transformation was supported through a catalytic grant from the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and its partners, the European Union (EU) and the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). Through this support, the universities of Agadez and Maradi were able to engage i-Futur to deploy the service. It highlights how targeted funding can trigger large-scale, systemic improvements in service delivery, transparency, and inclusion. The initiative advances the Government of Niger’s digitalization agenda while also improving the student experience.

Breaking barriers to make enrollment easier

Before the rollout of the digital system, the process of enrolling at a public university in Niger was time-consuming, expensive, and riddled with inefficiencies. Students, especially those living outside university towns, had to travel long distances, endure long queues, and navigate complex paperwork. Cash payments also exposed institutions to financial risks and made it difficult to track revenue accurately.

Today, the story is different. Building on the catalytic grant provided under UNCDF’s Digital Finance for Resilience (DFS4Res) programme UDDM partnered with Nigerien fintech i-Futur to design and launch an online platform that enables students to register, upload documents, pay fees, and receive confirmation, all without visiting campus.

“I live in Zinder, over 230 kilometers from Maradi. In 2021, I had to send someone on my behalf to submit my documents. But now, I register and pay from home using my phone. It saves time, money, and stress” says Amadou Amadou, a third-year agronomy student.

As a result, more than 7,700 students enrolled online in 2023, with 100% making their payments digitally. Students now receive their registration confirmation and student cards within 48 to 72 hours, a dramatic improvement compared to the previous process, which could take up to two months.

“This is huge. Digitalization allows us to monitor student enrollment in real time, track what each student is expected to pay, and ensure that all fees and registration charges are fully collected. Our staff have been trained, and both the funds and our revenue streams are now more secure.” explains Dr. Ali Hamadou, Director in charge of ICT and the digitization project, UDDM.

Digital solutions are transforming how students enroll in universities, making the process faster and more accessible. Photo: UNCDF

The iPayMoney payment platform interface, shown here on a mobile device. Photo: UNCDF

From one university to a national movement

Success at UDDM is now inspiring broader change. Public universities in Niamey and Agadez have begun adopting the model, and there is growing interest in extending the solution across all nine public universities in the country.
UNCDF’s support for the initiative reflects its evolving mandate to act as a catalytic financier in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Through a combination of funding instruments and technical assistance, UNCDF enables governments and local actors to test and scale digital solutions that drive impact.

“This is a clear example of how a relatively small investment can unlock systemic change,” says Olivier Yara, Digital Financial Specialist UNCDF, Niger. “We are not just digitizing payments; we are helping build the infrastructure, trust, and capacity needed to advance inclusive digital economies”.

Building a truly digital university beyond fees payment

Encouraged by the success of the digital registration and payments system, UDDM is now exploring further innovations, including digitizing grade management, course scheduling, and administrative services. The university is also working to ensure that all student-related payments, such as transcripts, document fees, and part-time lecturer hours can be processed digitally.

To support this broader digital shift, UNCDF and its partners are investing in awareness campaigns, capacity building for university staff, and digital and financial literacy efforts targeting students, particularly women and those from rural areas.

“For most students, this is their first experience with digital payments,” says Dr. Ali Hamadou, Director of ICT and Head of the Digitization Project at UDDM. “The learning curve is steep, but we have seen that once students try it, they embrace it. Digitalization is not just making our processes more efficient, it is preparing our students for the digital future.”

Strengthening systems for the future

As Niger’s public universities, home to some 62,478 students, according to Republique du Niger, Annuaire Statistique 2023–2024, begin to transition into a digital future, the benefits extend far beyond speed and convenience. Digitalization is enhancing transparency, securing revenue streams, and easing administrative burdens, while giving students more equitable access to services. And while the model began with a single university and a catalytic grant, it is now becoming an essential component of Niger’s broader digital transformation.

To dive deeper into how this digital transformation was achieved, you can access a detailed case study (EN I FR) that walks through the full journey, from the early challenges to the results achieved. And if you are thinking about how a similar approach could work in your own context, there is also a practical toolkit (EN I FR) with simple, step-by-step guidance on how to digitalize university fee payments.