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Under these challenging conditions, many of Niger’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) were hit hard. One of them, the Agence de Développement Numérique (ADN), which receives support from Swisscontact, demonstrated remarkable adaptability. Through the Local Entrepreneurship Promotion Program (PROMEL)—a Swiss development cooperation initiative implemented by Swisscontact—and with additional support from a youth employment and economic integration program funded by the Netherlands, ADN created an integrated digital platform. Accessible via mobile phone (with or without internet access), this platform comprises three key services: Agrishop, Agricall, and Rayuwa. Together, these solutions empower actors across agricultural value chains to embark on an inclusive and sustainable digital transition.
Agrishop is a dedicated online marketplace designed for buying and selling local agricultural products and services. More than just a transactional hub, it is a space for sharing information and creating new opportunities in the agricultural sector.
Swisscontact, through PROMEL, supported the development and launch of Agrishop by helping structure its business model and by strengthening ADN’s capacities. Thanks to this partnership, a weekly updated agricultural advisory section has already garnered more than 11,130 views.
When the July 26 coup triggered ECOWAS sanctions and border closures, panic spread among consumers, causing over one million CFA francs (1 400 CHF) worth of canceled orders on the platform. Some buyers feared that products came from abroad; others worried about rising logistics costs.
To restore confidence, ADN reinvented its marketing strategy, emphasizing that all products on the platform are sourced exclusively in Niger. The company also revised its delivery fee structure to remain competitive:
Facing steep inflation on some goods (up to +90% for potatoes) and a shortage of imported rice, local Nigerien rice quickly emerged as one of Agrishop’s star products. ADN updates product availability daily to maintain users’ trust in the platform.
Agricall (the RECA-ADN Agricultural Advisory Call Center) offers guidance in Hausa, Zarma, and French via a short code (424). Producers, processors, and other agricultural value-chain players can connect with trained advisors from the Réseau National des Chambres d’Agriculture du Niger (RECA).
Since its launch in January 2023, Agricall has already handled 1,396 calls, with 35.82% from women and 42.91% from people under 35. With technical and financial support from Swisscontact under PROMEL, this service is being professionalized and gradually rolled out nationwide.
In a country where internet access remains uneven, Rayuwa (a USSD-based application) ensures that key agricultural information is available offline. Users can:
Currently under further development, Rayuwa plans to sustain its operations through subscription models and advertising. Swisscontact works closely with ADN to refine these models and ensure they meet the needs of rural communities.
Despite the political and economic uncertainty triggered by the coup and its subsequent sanctions, ADN continues to show agility and focus on preserving the trust of its partners and customers. After an initial period of caution, the company is resuming its expansion plans in the Dosso and Maradi regions.
This forward momentum illustrates how resilience—fueled by rapid adaptation, innovation, and collaboration—can transform crises into opportunities. Even in the face of a volatile political environment, ADN’s digital platform proves that Niger has the capacity to adapt and innovate. As it advances the digital transformation of agricultural markets, ADN’s work stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when local solutions, robust partnerships, and bold ideas converge.