The African Development Bank’s concessional arm has approved a $9.44 million grant to bolster climate resilience in rice production across 13 West African nations.
The funding, allocated through the African Development Fund’s Climate Action Window, will support the Regional Resilient Rice Value Chains Development Project (REWARD-Adaptation).
According to AfDB documentation, the project targets rice value chains in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Key interventions include distributing climate-resilient seeds to 11,000 farmers prioritizing women and youth and training 12,600 farmers and processors in climate-smart techniques.
The initiative will equip 65 small and medium-sized enterprises with processing technology and market access. Automated weather stations will be deployed in each country to enhance climate monitoring, while digital platforms and radio broadcasts will deliver weather alerts to 2 million residents. Senior AfDB Irrigation Engineer Marwan Ladki stated the project aims to “reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience” while curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
Official projections indicate the program will generate approximately 47,000 jobs, including 8,000 permanent positions. Implementation begins immediately through the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice).
