AfDB approves US$87M for Sudan food project
Funding will support over 1.2 million people and focus on farm recovery in conflict areas.
SUDAN – The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a US$87 million grant for Sudan to support food production and rural incomes in areas hit by conflict.
The funding will go to the Boosting Agrifood Systems Resilience Project, approved on April 22, 2026. The project will reach more than 1.2 million people, including about 232,000 farming households across Blue Nile, Sennar, and Kassala states.
The bank will support farmers with improved seeds, climate-smart tools, and better storage and processing facilities. These steps aim to cut post-harvest losses and help farmers sell more of what they grow. The project will also link farmers to new markets to raise incomes and reduce the country’s reliance on food imports.
Women and young people will play a key role. The project will give them access to finance, training, and digital tools to help them build agribusinesses. Partners such as FAO, WFP, UN Women, and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center will add support worth US$12.3 million to back the plan.
AfDB Sudan Country Manager David Muthusi Mutuku said the grant marks “a path to recovery, reviving local economies and laying the foundation for a more secure and self-reliant future.” The bank redirected funds from cancelled projects to meet urgent needs.
The project aims to create jobs and help communities cope with climate shocks. However, conflict and instability could slow down progress. Sudan also still depends heavily on imports, which points to the need for wider changes in the sector.
The move comes as the bank steps up support across Africa. In February 2026, it approved a US$200 million loan for Nigeria to expand its agricultural production under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket.
The programme has already helped farmers grow wheat on 118,000 hectares during the 2023 to 2024 dry season, raising output to about 0.5 million metric tons.
AfDB Director General for Nigeria Abdul Kamara said, “We are supporting farmers to improve productivity and resilience.” He added that the programme will help cut imports and support local supply.
Both projects show a clear focus on raising local food production and supporting farmers as countries work to strengthen food systems.
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