This article describes India's development partnership with Niger: grants, projects funded through lines of credit to ECOWAS, capacity building and equipment, tele-education and tele-medicine, defence training and agricultural cooperation, and humanitarian assistance. The facts are drawn from the MEA bilateral brief of April 2026.

Grants

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, India has extended the following grants to Niger:

  • A grant of US$ 35.484 million, extended in September 2018, for the construction of the Mahatma Gandhi International Convention Centre (MGICC).
  • Grant assistance of US$ 15 million to the Government of Niger to defray part of the expenses of hosting the AU Summit in July 2019 in Niamey.

The brief adds that India has also provided humanitarian assistance, medicines, vaccines and grants for computers and equipment purchases.

Projects under lines of credit to ECOWAS

In addition to bilateral lines of credit, projects totalling US$ 131.50 million have been approved for Niger from the lines of credit extended to the ECOWAS Bank for Investment & Development (EBID). The brief notes that Niger has withdrawn from ECOWAS subsequent to the coup of July 2023. The approved projects are:

  • US$ 10 million for the electrification of 50 villages through solar photovoltaic systems in the regions of Dosso, Tillabery and Tahoua
  • US$ 39.70 million for the solar electrification of 250 rural communities
  • US$ 56.70 million for upgrading and extending potable water supply networks in the cities of Maradi, Dosso and Diffa
  • US$ 10.50 million for the electrification of resettlement sites under the Resettlement Action Plan of the Kandadji Dam and the upgrading of the power distribution network in the dam area
  • US$ 14.60 million for an Agriculture & Irrigation Project for the resettlement sites of the Kandadji Dam

Capacity building and equipment

  • In 2006, Indian experts visited Niger to assess the requirement for computerisation of Niger's Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Mines & Energy, and of Dry-land Agricultural Research. Technical assistance was provided in the ICT and agriculture sectors.
  • In 2011, a cash grant of Euro 86,452 was provided for the purchase of two television cameras for the National Television of Niger.
  • In 2012, the Government of India supplied 100 computers and 100 printers, worth Rs. 67 lakhs, to Niger's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • In 2015, India gifted 10 laptops, worth Rs. 12,98,120, to the Office of the Director General, Radio Broadcasting and Television of Niger (ONEP).

Tele-education, tele-medicine and digital cooperation

The Pan African e-Network Project Phase-1 (PAeNP), funded by India, was completed by Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) in September 2017 in Niamey. For Phase-II, called e-VidyaBharthi and e-AarogyaBharthi (e-VAB), the Niger Government has identified 2 universities, in Niamey and Maradi, and forwarded its concurrence to the proposed text of an MoU.

As of the brief, Niger has sought a few clarifications, and a response on them is awaited from MEA. Niger has also expressed interest in the Digital India Programs, in the context of its own programmes for Smart Villages and the development of a Technology City, for possible cooperation with India.

Defence cooperation

Nigerien defence personnel have been participating in Indian defence training programmes since 2018. For the year 2025-26, 25 slots have been allotted to Nigerien defence personnel. Senior defence officials from Niger have visited India:

  • Brig. General Amadou Aiddili, Secretary General, Ministry of Defence, visited India on 18-20 October 2022 and attended the India-Africa Defence Dialogue on the sidelines of Defence Expo-2022.
  • Senior Colonel Moctar Diallo Ibrahim, Deputy Chief of Air Staff, visited India from 2-8 December 2024.
  • Senior Colonel Salifou Mainassara, Chief of Air Staff of Niger, attended Aero-India 2025 in Bangalore from 10-14 February 2025.

Agricultural cooperation

In May 2019, Mr. Ibrahima Guimba Saidou, Minister-Special Advisor to the President of Niger, visited India to meet officials of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research and the Department of Agricultural Research and Education to strengthen ties in agriculture. Mr. Elhadji Ousmane Mahaman, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, visited the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Hyderabad from 6 to 9 Feb 2026.

Humanitarian assistance

  • In 2005, India provided a relief package of basic medicines to Niger as humanitarian assistance for the food crisis.
  • In 2010, a cash grant of US$ 1,00,000 was provided to help Niger tide over the food crisis at the time.
  • Life-saving medicines to support the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, and other essential medicines, worth US$ 40000 were donated to Niger as humanitarian relief.
  • Under the Vaccine Maitri initiative, 25000 doses of Covishield were donated to Niger in March 2021.