The Republic of Niger is a partner country of German Development Cooperation. Cooperation with Niger began in 1952, before the country gained independence in 1960.

According to the Human Development Index (HDI) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Niger is among the five poorest countries in the world. Annual per-capita income is less than 200 euro. Poverty in the rural regions, where 85 percent of the population live, is particularly high.

The country is three times the size of Germany, however a mere 15 percent of the country is suitable for agricultural use. Fragile climatic conditions, overuse of the soil and erosion endanger the very basis for agricultural production. Until the early 1980s, Niger generated considerable earnings by mining and exporting uranium. After the uranium boom ended, exports were limited to agricultural products such as onions, sesame and livestock. Other factors that are obstructing development include very rapid population growth (3.3 percent per annum) and insufficient access to education and health care services.

Following a period of political instability in the 1990s, with two coups and a Tuareg insurgency in the north, the country returned to democracy in 1999 and its political development has been stable ever since. The first municipal council elections were held in July 2004.

Until 2003, GTZ supported Niger in the fields of resource protection/rural development, water supply, peace promotion, family health, native language primary schooling and savings and loan systems. At intergovernmental negotiations in 2002, it was agreed to focus on the priority area Poverty reduction in rural regions. A nationwide programme implemented jointly by the GTZ, KfW Entwicklungsbank (development bank) and the German Development Service contributes to the attainment of this goal.

GTZ is also implementing an HIV/AIDS prevention and literacy project in schools. On behalf of the European Union, GTZ is supporting a project to promote primary school education.

Since 1981, GTZ has maintained an office in the capital Niamey.