AfDB approves US$99M to boost rice production in West Africa

WEST AFRICA – The African Development Fund (AfDB) Board of Directors has approved a US$99.16 million financing package to strengthen regional rice value chains in West Africa.

The approval, made on November 20 in Abidjan, represents a significant advancement toward enhancing food security and sovereignty in the region through the Resilient Regional Rice Value Chain Development Project (RC-RVCDP).

The project aims to achieve rice self-sufficiency in West Africa by 2030, underpinned by both public and private sector investments designed to increase rice production, improve value chain efficiency, and promote regional collaboration.

Key objectives of the project include transforming rice production in West Africa by modernizing irrigation systems, improving access to climate-smart seeds and inputs, upgrading local processing units, and supporting marketing and trade initiatives.

The initial funding allocation will benefit The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau at the national level, alongside regional stakeholders such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice).

In T Gambia, the project will directly impact 20,000 rice farmers, including 6,000 women and 4,000 youth. It will also assist 10,000 producers in gaining access to seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural equipment, with a specific focus on providing financial inclusion support to 40 women.

In Guinea-Bissau, the project will reach 16,000 rice farmers, including 5,000 women and 3,000 young people. Additionally, 50,000 producers will benefit from enhanced access to seeds, fertilizers, and mechanization resources.

The financing package includes grants of US$15.95 million, US$43.88 million, and US$19.94 million from the African Development Bank Group’s concessional lending window, along with an additional US$19.39 million grant from the Transition Support Facility, aimed at strengthening resilience in fragile countries.

These grants make up 91.2% of the total project cost. Co-financing will come from national governments, beneficiaries, ECOWAS, and AfricaRice, with The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau each contributing 5.2% and other stakeholders covering the remaining costs in cash or in-kind contributions.

The project places a special emphasis on empowering women and youth by offering skills training, access to finance, and opportunities to participate in agricultural cooperatives.

At the regional level, AfricaRice will lead technical support efforts, assess seed and variety needs, and distribute improved seed varieties across member countries.

ECOWAS will take the lead on policy harmonization, advancing governance in the rice sector through better regulatory frameworks and operational support for the ECOWAS Rice Observatory.

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