The bank Wednesday approved a $10 million grant to help the Niger government balance economic growth with its rapidly increasing population growth. Another $2.4 million is expected from the U.N. Population Fund.

The African nation's population in 2006 was estimated at 13 million, expanding at an annual rate of 3.3 percent. Given that the country is one of the poorest in the world, "the effects of such rapid demographic growth will jeopardize Niger's ability to fulfill the goals of its poverty reduction strategy," the World Bank cautioned.

Money from the bank will be spent in part to increase awareness of reproductive health issues nationwide and improve women's social status in the country.