UNCDF in Niger
West and Central Africa and the Caribbean Region
Investment grants
Our work
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), in close collaboration with national authorities and development partners, supports inclusive economic growth and resilience in Niger. Through innovative financing mechanisms, UNCDF helps unlocking investment, strengthen digital ecosystems, and promote climate-resilient local development.
UNCDF works to expand access to finance to underserved populations, particularly women, youth, and rural communities.
Advancing resilience through digital finance
The Digital Finance for Resilience (DFS4Res) programme is a $16.9 million initiative supported by the European Union (EU) and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). Implemented since December 2020 across 11 countries, including Niger, the programme aims to expand access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized entreprises (MSMEs), women, and youth by scaling digital financial services to accelerate post-COVID recovery and build long-term resilience.
In Niger, the programme has supported fintech innovation, expanded digital agent networks, and promoted digital public services. The digitization of tuition payments has , enabled over 11,000 students to register and pay school fees online, prompting government plans for national scale-up.
Through a partnership with Zamani Telecom, a nigerien telecom operator, the programme trained 10,473 agents, expanding digital financial access to nearly 217,000 users and processing over $385,000 in digital transactions in collaboration with the nigerien fintech I-Futur.
DSFS4Res has also supported policy reforms with Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), contributed to the rollout of Niger’s IDES digital identification system, and trained more than 14,000 people, mainly women and youth, in digital and financial literacy, strengthening inclusion and resilience.
Strengthening climate resilience through LoCAL
The Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) is flagship mechanism for channeling climate finance to local governments in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The mechanism operated through Performance-Based Climate Resilience Grants (PBCRGs) combined with technical assistance and capacity-building support for local authorities.
In Niger, LoCAL was launched in 2014 with a testing phase in the communes of Dogon Kiria and Sokorbé in the Dosso region. Following positive results, the programme expanded to 17 communes across four regions, reaching a population of more than 1.5 million people.
Approximately 100 climate adaptation investments have been financed, directly benefiting around 200,000 people. After each PBCRG cycle, the performance of beneficiary communes is assessed by independent experts based on LoCAL standards.. The results determine the allocation of future grants, ensuring accountability and performance-based financing
Through this mechanism, LoCAL strengthens local capacity adaptation into local planning and budgeting processes, and increases the availability of climate finance for local governments.
Hadiza Ali village, GABERI commune Falwel in Niger. Photo: UNCDF.
Aissa Oumarou GABERI commune FALWEL in Niger. Photo: UNCDF.
Unlocking finance for food systems through digital innovation
In 2023–2024, in partnership with UNDP, UNCDF piloted digital payment and financial inclusion solutions targeting rural youth, women, and workers participating inlabour-intensive public works (HIMO).
Through this pintervention, the AgroDigi platform was developed to support the digitalization of agricultural value chains. The platform enables transparent payments, digital savings, and access to tailored financial services for smallholder farmers.
The initiative is expected to reach more than 1,700 cooperative members across 19 rural villages, with 800 HIMO workers already integrated into digital savings mechanisms. By linking digital innovation with local financial systems, the programme aims to improve smallholder access to credit and strengthen sustainable rural finance in Niger’s agricultural sector.
Latest news and stories
Our partners
UNCDF’s work in Niger is made possible through funding from the European Union (EU) and through close collaboration with the Government of Niger, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Joint SDG Fund, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office.
Documents
This section brings together key documents related to UNCDF’s work in the country. It includes a curated selection of publications, papers, and reports that reflect the scope of engagement at country level, from programme design to implementation and outcomes.
These documents offer additional context on how initiatives are developed and delivered, and how partnerships contribute to advancing national priorities. They are intended to support transparency, facilitate knowledge sharing and serve as a practical resource for partners, stakeholders and others seeking a deeper understanding of UNCDF’s work.
| Title | Type | Date |
|---|
Contact us
For any questions regarding UNCDF's work in Niger, including partnerships, sectoral and thematic investment opportunities, or ongoing initiatives, please contact our team at wcac.region@uncdf.org.
