Niger Secures Historic AfDB Funding to Overhaul Water Access in Zinder

NIAMEY, Niger - In a major stride toward addressing chronic water shortages in the country’s southeast, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a landmark financing package worth 120.9 million Units of Account - roughly 98.7 billion CFA francs - to transform water and sanitation infrastructure in the Zinder region.

Announced on Friday, November 14, the project marks one of the most significant water-sector investments in Niger’s recent history. It will overhaul drinking water systems in Zinder city, Mirriah, and 14 surrounding villages, ultimately benefiting nearly 700,000 residents who have long endured severe shortages that hinder health, economic activity, and daily living.

Authorities say the initiative aims to put a definitive end to a decades-long crisis in one of the nation’s most densely populated regions, where unreliable supply and aging infrastructure have repeatedly compounded public-health risks.

The AfDB’s support is expected to fund new water production and distribution facilities, expand sanitation services, and reinforce the resilience of communities facing rising demand and climate-related pressures.

Officials hailed the financing as a turning point - one that could reshape the socio-economic landscape of Zinder and provide a model for long-term water security across the country.