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© 2023 International Monetary Fund
SIP/2023/007
IMF Selected Issues Paper
African Department
The Efficiency of Social Spending in Niger
Prepared by Yoro Diallo, Arsène Kaho, and Can Sever
Authorized for distribution by Costas Christou
December 2022
IMF Selected Issues Papers are prepared by IMF staff as background documentation for periodic consultations with member countries. It is based on the information available at the time it was completed on December 6, 2022. This paper is also published separately as IMF Country Report No 2023/029.
ABSTRACT: Financial inclusion can increase economic growth and productivity and reduce poverty and inequality by helping people and firms—particularly SMEs—to save and invest, smooth consumption, and better manage financial risks. This paper highlights Niger’s lag compared to other WAEMU countries in terms of access to and use of formal financial services, including for women and youth, and underscores key demand and supply side challenges to financial inclusion as well as structural impediments. It lays out key priorities for Niger to harness the potential of greater financial inclusion to support the country’s development agenda, including efforts to tackle low financial literacy, promote digitization, and address informality.
RECOMMENDED CITATION: A Yoro, Diallo; Arsene, Kaho and Can Sever. 2022. Financial Inclusion in Niger: Challenges and Opportunities. IMF Selected Issues Paper SIP/2023/007.
| JEL Classification Numbers: | G21; G53; O16 |
| Keywords: | Financial Inclusion; Financial Institutions; Niger |
| Author’s E-Mail Address: | ydiallo2@imf.org; akaho@imf.org; csever@imf.org |
| JEL Classification Numbers: | G21; G53; O16 |
| Keywords: | Financial Inclusion; Financial Institutions; Niger |
| Author’s E-Mail Address: | ydiallo2@imf.org; akaho@imf.org; csever@imf.org |
Title Page
SELECTED ISSUES PAPERS
Financial Inclusion in Niger: Challenges and Opportunities
Niger