Editing Economy of Niger (section)

==Government restructuring==
In January 2000, Niger's newly elected government inherited serious financial and economic problems including a virtually empty treasury, past-due salaries (11 months of arrears) and scholarship payments, increased debt, reduced revenue performance, and lower public investment. In December 2000, Niger qualified for enhanced debt relief under the [[International Monetary Fund]] program for [[Highly Indebted Poor Countries]] and concluded an agreement with the Fund on a [[Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility]] (PRGF).

In addition to changes in the budgetary process and public finances, the new government has pursued economic restructuring towards the IMF promoted [[privatization]] model. This has included the privatization of water distribution and telecommunications and the removal of price protections for petroleum products, allowing prices to be set by world market prices. Further privatizations of public enterprises are in the works. In its effort to comply with the IMF's [[Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility]] plan, the government is also taking action to reduce corruption and, as the result of a participatory process encompassing civil society, has devised a [[Poverty Reduction Strategy Plan]] that focuses on improving [[Health care in Niger|health]], [[Education in Niger|primary education]], rural infrastructure, and [[Judiciary of Niger|judicial]] restructuring.

===Foreign aid===
{{Update section|date=September 2024}}
The most important donors in Niger are [[France]], the [[European Union]], the [[World Bank]], the IMF and other United Nations agencies ([[UNDP]], [[UNICEF]], [[FAO]], [[WFP]], [[NGOs]], and [[UNFPA]]). Other principal donors include the [[United States]], [[Belgium]], [[Germany]], [[Switzerland]], [[Canada]], and [[Saudi Arabia]].  [[USAID]] does not have an office in Niger, the United States contributes nearly $10 million each year to Niger's development. The US is also a major partner in policy coordination in such areas as food security and [[HIV]]/[[AIDS]].  The importance of external support for Niger's development is demonstrated by the fact that some 45% of the government's FY 2002 budget, including 80% of its capital budget, derives from donor resources.

In 2005 the UN drew attention to the increased need for foreign aid given severe problems with [[drought]] and [[locusts]] resulting in a [[famine]] endangering the lives of around a million people.