World Bank issues $100m financing for Niger's digital transformation project

The World Bank has approved $100 million International Development Association financing, including $50 million credit and a $50 million grant, to help Niger implement a program to use digital infrastructure and services to modernize its economy and strengthen access to basic services. 

The Smart Villages for Rural Growth and Digital Inclusion project aims to increase access to mobile phone and broadband services in rural areas and to bring digital financial services to selected underserved areas in the country. The project will increase digital connectivity by supporting reforms that would help create an enabling environment for private investments in the telecoms sector, the World Bank says.