Niger’s Amana Transfert d’Argent pursues financial inclusion
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Mohamed Attaib Kalifa, director general of Amana Transfert d’Argent and vice president of APBEF/Niger, discussed the potential for greater financial inclusion in Niger.
He explained that financial inclusion means giving all citizens the opportunity to participate fully in the country’s economy. Amana, a fintech launched in 2020, operates across Niger and several other West African countries, allowing millions to send, receive, and manage money.
Kalifa noted that while financial service usage in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) increased to 73.6% in 2024, Niger’s rate of traditional banking remains low at 8.9%. He emphasized that electronic money is now the main driver of financial inclusion within UEMOA, reaching 57.2% usage in 2024. Amana currently employs over 1,600 people and operates in seven West African nations, but Kalifa stressed their priority is expanding financial access for citizens.
To reach people in remote areas, especially women, Amana prioritizes proximity through a network of local branches. The company also invests in digital solutions, acknowledging that only 36% of Niger’s population and 41% of its small and medium enterprises were digitally connected in 2022. Amana’s innovations include the AmanaTa mobile application, which allows access to financial services even without internet connectivity, and a prepaid virtual VISA card for digital payments worldwide.
