African Development Bank Group President Sidi Ould Tah and Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine have signed a $144.7 million financing agreement to improve energy access and strengthen private sector competitiveness in Niger.
The agreement, concluded at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan, provides budgetary support from the African Development Fund, the institution’s concessional financing window. It will allow the Nigerien government to implement Phase 1 of the Energy Sector Governance and Competitiveness Support Programme (PAGSEC).
The programme aims to increase national electricity access from 22.5% to 30% by 2026 and raise the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP from 2.5% to 3.8%. A central focus is renewable energy development: Niger plans to install 240 MW of solar capacity by 2030, including 50 MW by December 2026.
Prime Minister Zeine, shared: “Our Bank's support came at an important time, and the process has now led to the establishment of this programme, which aims to support Niger's economic competitiveness and resilience to multiple shocks through, improved access to energy, promotion of the private sector, consolidation of the fiscal framework, and better consideration of vulnerable groups within public policies.”
Beyond the energy sector, the programme aims to strengthen public financial management systems, while enhancing tax revenue mobilisation and control systems. It will further support the clearance of domestic arrears, enhance public-private partnerships dialogue, and promote the adoption of an industrial and trade policy to bolster Niger’s private sector.
Furthermore, the programme prioritises social inclusion, with targeted support for internally displaced persons, women, and young people. With more than 507,000 people displaced due to security challenges in the Sahel, PAGSEC includes measures to foster social and economic resilience. By updating national energy policies and creating conditions for private-sector participation in rural electrification projects, the programme is set to help Niger unlock its vast renewable energy potential while building governance systems that support inclusive and sustainable development.
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