Niger ranks among the world’s poorest countries. Despite the Sahel region’s interior harbouring valuable raw materials, the majority of the country’s gross domestic product is earned in agriculture and the informal sector. Approximately 80 percent of the population survives on subsistence agriculture, and nearly half of Nigeriens live in extreme poverty. The goal of Swisscontact’s local entrepreneurship promotion programme (PROMEL) is to improve collaboration with institutional partners and the private sector, improving access to markets for businesses, and creating income opportunities for women and young people through educational qualifications.

Financial inclusion, a crucial aspect of social and economic development, has often eluded women in Niger, where traditional financial system remains predominantly male-dominated. Despite playing significant roles in the local economy, women find themselves excluded form essential financial services. The PROMEL program, however, is taking strides to address this challenge by placing women at the center of its mission for financial inclusion.