The IMF has approved new loans for Niger to help with reforms aimed at reducing balance of payments risks and resolving ongoing balance of payments problems. The IMF's Executive Board completed the Fourth and Fifth Reviews of Niger’s program under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the First Review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
The reviews' completion led to an immediate disbursement of SDR 19.74 million (about US$ 26 million) under the ECF, and SDR 34.216 million (about US$ 45 million) under the RSF, bringing total disbursements under the ECF to SDR 157.92 million (about US$ 210 million).
Niger’s ECF, initially approved in December 2021, was complemented by the RSF in July 2023. Both arrangements have been extended by six months until December 2025 to allow time for key reforms and fiscal consolidation. While program implementation was on track as of June 2023, a political crisis disrupted progress, leading to debt service arrears.
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This decision could influence other international lenders and donors to extend support to Niger.
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