AgriConnect initiative in West and Central Africa

The AgriConnect Compact, a collaborative framework involving the World Bank Group and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is being implemented across African nations to transform agricultural sectors, enhance food security, and generate employment.

In Nigeria, the initiative focuses on improving market linkages, digital solutions for smallholder farmers, and transitioning subsistence farmers to surplus production. The program aims to support approximately three million people and create over 2.5 million jobs over five years. To support this, the Nigerian government also established the Coalition of Farmers Associations for Food Security (COA-FARMERS) to improve communication between farmers and the state.

In Cameroon, the AgriConnect Country Compact outlines 24 interventions through 2030, requiring an estimated $1.87 billion in investment. The program targets eight specific value chains, including corn, rice, and cocoa, with the goal of reducing the national food import bill by 28% by 2030. Key pillars of the Cameroonian plan include regulatory reform, strengthening agrifood foundations, and increasing access to finance, alongside a plan to issue 500,000 land titles to facilitate investment.