African Development Fund Approves $9.44M Grant to Strengthen West Africa’s Rice Resilience.

Friday 18th July 2025

Par inAfrika Reporter

The African Development Fund has approved a $9.44 million grant for a significant agricultural initiative aimed at enhancing the climate resilience of rice value chains across 13 West African countries. This major investment comes under the Climate Action Window and targets the broader objective of sustainable agricultural transformation through the REWARD-Adaptation project.

The grant will benefit countries such as Benin, Ghana, Senegal, Mali, Liberia, and others in the region. The focus is on building adaptive capacity among smallholder farmers and processors by promoting the use of climate-smart agricultural practices and technology. This project is timely, as climate change continues to pose a growing threat to food security across the continent.

The initiative includes a wide range of activities from seed distribution to technology adoption. Around 11,000 farmers will receive improved, climate-resilient rice seeds, while nearly 13,000 individuals will be trained on sustainable farming methods. Special emphasis is placed on women and youth participation, with nearly half of the direct beneficiaries being women.

Support for small and medium-sized enterprises is another cornerstone of the project, with plans to equip 65 SMEs with better tools and access to networks. It will also employ digital platforms and radio broadcasts to disseminate weather forecasts and climate information, targeting up to 2 million people across the region.

Additionally, 52 automatic weather stations will be deployed four in each country to improve climate monitoring and support timely agricultural decisions. These measures are projected to create approximately 47,000 jobs, including permanent and seasonal roles, stimulating rural economies while building resilience to climate shocks.

This investment marks a critical step in Africa’s efforts to climate-proof its agriculture sector, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and secure livelihoods for millions. It is also part of the African Development Bank’s broader vision to promote sustainable, inclusive growth across the continent’s agricultural value chains.