The African Development Fund has approved $99.16 million to support the Regional West Africa Rice Development Project, which aims to enhance food security and self-sufficiency in the region.
The initiative focuses on The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, ECOWAS, and the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) and is designed to boost rice production, strengthen value chains, and promote climate resilience and economic growth.
The funding includes grants of $15.95 million, $43.88 million, and $19.94 million from the African Development Bank Group’s concessional loans window, along with a $19.39 million contribution from its Transition Support Facility. Together, these grants account for 91.2 percent of the project’s total cost, with additional contributions coming from the governments of The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.
The project will focus on improving irrigation infrastructure, advancing rice processing and marketing, and fostering intraregional trade in rice.
It also prioritizes empowering women and youth, aiming to create opportunities that drive sustainability and inclusivity in the region’s agricultural sector.
This initiative is expected to make a significant impact on food security and economic development across West Africa.
