ABIDJAN – In a significant stride towards bolstering food security and climate resilience across West Africa, a substantial $9.44 million grant has been approved to fortify the region’s vital rice value chains. This crucial funding, greenlit on July 17, 2025, by the Board of Directors of the African Development Fund (ADF)—the concessional financing arm of the African Development Bank (AfDB)—signals a robust commitment to safeguarding one of the continent’s most climate-sensitive staples.
The initiative, spearheaded by AfricaRice (the Africa Rice Centre), a leading agricultural research institution, is set to implement a high-impact project financed through the ADF’s dedicated Climate Action Window. A statement released Friday by APA confirmed the grant, which targets thirteen West African nations: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
At its core, the project, dubbed REWARD–Adaptation, is a direct assault on the vulnerabilities of the rice sector in the face of escalating climate change impacts. The AfDB underscores its dual objective: to “reduce the vulnerability and enhance the resilience of rice value chains—from production to processing and marketing—while lowering greenhouse gas emissions.” This will be achieved primarily through the widespread adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies.
The ripple effect of this investment is expected to be transformative. On the agricultural production front, the project aims to equip 11,000 rice farmers with climate-resilient seed varieties, with a particular focus on empowering women farmers (4,950 beneficiaries) and youth in agriculture (6,600 beneficiaries). Beyond seed distribution, the initiative will strengthen local seed systems and provide intensive agricultural training to 12,600 farmers and processors. Crucially, it will enhance access to vital climate services and early warning systems, offering a lifeline against unpredictable weather patterns.
The support extends downstream to rice processing. A total of 65 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will receive essential backing in the form of adapted equipment. The project is designed to champion innovative, climate-resilient rice processing technologies and foster strategic partnerships between these SMEs and local communities, accelerating the adoption of these crucial innovations.
REWARD—Adaptation is the climate adaptation arm of the broader REWARD Project, a comprehensive regional effort dedicated to developing resilient regional rice value chains across West Africa. Its ambitious scope includes substantial investment in climate information services, such as the installation of four automated weather stations per country, the expansion of existing agro-meteorological networks, and the real-time dissemination of critical weather information via a digital platform and radio broadcasts. These efforts are projected to reach an impressive two million beneficiaries, providing actionable insights for sustainable farming.
The economic dividends are equally compelling. According to the project’s meticulous implementation plan, an estimated 47,000 job opportunities will be created—8,000permanent and 39,000 seasonal positions—injecting much-needed vitality into rural economies. “The objective is also to improve the effectiveness of early warning systems and access to climate data so rice farmers and processors can better anticipate climate-related risks,” stated Marwan Ladki, AfDB Senior Irrigation Engineer and project lead, highlighting the proactive approach to risk mitigation.
As West Africa grapples with the escalating threats of climate variability and its impact on food security, the REWARD–Adaptation project stands as a beacon of hope. By championing sustainable value chains and integrating climate resilience, productivity, and inclusiveness within the agricultural sector, this initiative marks a pivotal step towards a more secure and prosperous future for millions of West Africans.
