Economics & Development

Niger’s Country Partnership Framework (FY26–FY31) is anchored in a streamlined country diagnostic that highlights the country’s deep structural challenges arising from fragility, climate vulnerability, rapid population growth, weak governance, and low human capital. Recurrent political instability—most recently the 2023 military takeover—has constrained access to external financing, disrupted trade, and exacerbated economic and social vulnerabilities. Niger’s economy remains heavily dependent on climate-sensitive rainfed agriculture and volatile extractive industries, leading to unstable growth and persistent regional poverty disparities, particularly in conflict-affected areas hosting refugees and internally displaced persons. The CPF is organized around four high-level objectives: building resilience to shocks; improving governance and service delivery; strengthening human capital with a focus on gender empowerment; and supporting economic growth and job creation for youth. Priority interventions emphasize improving agricultural and livestock productivity, accelerating climate adaptation and disaster risk management, containing insecurity and grievances, strengthening public resource management, enhancing local service delivery, expanding access to water, electricity, and digital infrastructure, and improving education, health, and employment outcomes. Cross-cutting themes include fragility and conflict, climate change, water security, and inclusion. The framework underscores the need for coordinated, accountable institutions, adaptive social protection systems, women’s empowerment, and private-sector participation to stabilize Niger’s development trajectory and lay the foundations for resilient, inclusive, and sustainable growth.

The Financing and Implementation Arrangements of the Niger Country Partnership Framework (FY26–FY31) outline a selective, flexible, and FCV‑sensitive program delivered through a one–World Bank Group (WBG) approach. Drawing on lessons from the FY18–23 CPF and aligned with new WBG initiatives—including M300, AgriConnect, Universal Health Coverage, and the forthcoming MSME strategy—the CPF prioritizes energy, agriculture, and human capital as core drivers of jobs, resilience, and fragility reduction. Financing will combine IDA resources with IFC and MIGA instruments to mobilize private capital, supported by scalable Investment Project Financing, Multiphase Programmatic Approaches, and expanded use of results‑based financing where country systems allow. Crisis preparedness tools, including the Rapid Response Option and Contingent Emergency Response Project, enhance flexibility in shocks. Implementation emphasizes strengthened capacity of Project Implementation Units, community‑driven development, climate resilience, and strong coordination with humanitarian, security, and development partners. The CPF retains adaptability to evolving political, security, and macroeconomic conditions while maintaining a focus on foundational services, private sector development, and inclusive, sustainable growth.

The Niger Country Partnership Framework (FY26–FY31) Results Matrix translates strategic priorities into a focused intervention logic aimed at accelerating job creation while strengthening resilience and reducing fragility. The CPF supports three mutually reinforcing outcomes: (i) a healthier, better educated, and more skilled population to strengthen human capital; (ii) increased access to electricity to enable business growth and improve quality of life; and (iii) improved agricultural productivity and food security to develop value chains, stimulate rural growth, and reduce household vulnerability. These outcomes are underpinned by a cross‑cutting focus on enhanced macro‑fiscal management and improved access to finance and markets, creating fiscal space for public investment and a more enabling business environment. Aligned with the World Bank Group’s 3‑by‑5 Jobs Framework, CPF interventions support direct, indirect, and induced jobs by investing in education, health, infrastructure, private capital mobilization, and regulatory reforms. All interventions integrate climate resilience and are calibrated to address drivers of fragility, conflict, and exclusion, with progress measured through the World Bank Group’s “More and Better‑Paid Jobs” indicator.

The Middle East conflict has disrupted Viet Nam’s energy supply chain, cutting crude imports and increasing reliance on refined petroleum imports from Asia suppliers. As a result, manufacturing activity has slowed as oil-driven input costs have increased. With fuel and transport costs adding to existing housing and food pressures, inflation increased to 4. 7 percent from 3.4 percent in February, with indications of pass-through to broader producer prices specially in manufacturing. The fuel price stabilization fund has provided temporary relief, with budget advances and diesel-only support underscoring its limits. Dong liquidity tightened, pushing up interbank rates and prompting the SB V to inject liquidity.