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[Column] Mansoor Hamayun: Why smallholder farmers should be top of the bill at COP28
Six months from now, the world will descend on Dubai for COP28. Unfortunately, every COP summit sees more time spent talking about the vulnerabilities of the Global South and the aid required.
AfDB approves $11.7 million to facilitate access to fertilizers for African farmers
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank, AfDB, has approved a $11.7 million budgetary allocation to the African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) for its 2023 operations.
Kenya and IFAD agree to accelerate agriculture and adapt to climate crisis
Kenya is one of the countries most affected by the climate crisis. One of the worst ever droughts in over 40 years has caused crop failure and numerous livestock deaths.
Bühler and Nigerian government collaborate to enhance rice production and food security
Initiated in 2017 with the agreement for the acquisition of a rice mill at Imota, the project involves the government at both state and federal level, which has recognised the importance of improving the independence and security of its food supply.
Government of Zambia and CIMMYT strengthen ties in agricultural development
Senior government officials in Zambia have embraced the rollout of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center’s (CIMMYT’s) new innovations which target smallholder farmers and agriculture-based value chain actors in the country.
[Column] Apollos Nwafor: Investing in African food systems resilience
Multiple natural and man-made shocks to agri-food systems including drought, floods, fall armyworm invasion, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have disproportionately affected the continent, driving up food prices.
The EU and IFAD join forces to support resilient and sustainable food systems
Small-scale farmers produce one third of the world’s food and up to 70 percent of the food in low- and middle-income countries.
[Column] Givemore T. Chiwanza: How has the Russia-Ukraine crisis affected Africa?
This Ukraine crisis escalated on 24 February 2022 and has tremendously impacted the global socio-economic terrain. The situation has and will continue to affect the African continent's financial system and food and energy security.
[East Africa Business Week] Bob Koigi: Scaling startups’ investment in the region
As startups successfully raise funding, they are boosting their product and service portfolio while setting sight on the East African region for expansion. This
[East Africa Business Week] Bob Koigi: Cushioning food systems from shocks
This week, thousands of delegates across the continent and beyond are gathered in Kigali, Rwanda for the African Green Revolution Forum, AGRF, an annual event bringing governments and partners together around food security and making safe, nutritious foods produced in a sustainable way available to all Africans.
[East Africa Business Week] Bob Koigi: Region bets on bioeconomy to bolster growth
Among the key interventions proposed in the strategy is the creation of new forms of sustainable bioenergy, and the conversion of waste materials to useful products.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Gas price triggers ripple effect across industries
Nigeria’s inflation as of the month of May stood at 17.71%, but economists are now predicting just a month later a new figure we can expect at the end of this year.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Government, Industries move to expand women enterprise
With plunging profits in its prized sector, oil and gas, and an ever-climbing inflation, Nigeria is increasingly turning to what most of the world has been blind to – the potential of women in business.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Clean energy gets funding amid inflation and trade deficits
Oil and Gas has been a pillar supporting the Nigerian economy for a very long time. Rich in this natural resource, Nigeria may be guilty of neglecting other promising sectors, like Agriculture and even Insurance.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Telcos break new ground, digital loans gain momentum
Instant loans, sometimes called digital loans, are gaining speed in the country and the telecom sector took some giant steps forward this week.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Persistent shortages and inflation call for new measures
Africa has in the past decade positioned itself as a knowledge economy, with one of the most robust startup ecosystems in the world.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Experts point toward startup management for local productivity
Nigeria’s crown jewel, oil and gas, has been in a state of mild disrepair for several months now. There’s an ongoing fuel scarcity situation that is intensifying by the day and causing a ripple effect in every aspect of daily life.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Domestic savings, capital formation meet infrastructure demands
The Federal Government is taking huge strides to strengthen the infrastructure and agriculture industries in Nigeria.
[East Africa Business Week] Bob Koigi: Financial institutions bank on tech to bolster offerings
East Africa financial institutions are betting on tech to boost their offerings, grow their customers’ portfolio and stay afloat in a competitive market.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Government, Central Bank turn focus to the startup movement
There’s an ongoing comparison in Nigeria's status quo that is causing some rift – the national statistics and reports are showing a promising and stable economy, but the situation on-ground reflects a different reality.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: 5G becomes national security policy, industries seek sustainability in technology
The one thing the current global pandemic has unilaterally effected in all nations is a rearrangement of priorities, both for people and for governments. Survival elements – food and healthcare – have taken lead position.
[Nigeria Business Week] Andrea Ayemoba: Industries unanimously look toward renewable, sustainable practices
The Covid-19 crisis has been cause for numerous economic slumps round the world; companies were shut down, production halted, industries crippled and prices skyrocketed the world over.
Most commodity prices to drop in 2020 as COVID-19 depresses demand, disrupts supply, World Bank
The global economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic has driven most commodity prices down and is expected to result in substantially lower prices over 2020, the World Bank said in its April Commodity Markets Outlook.
Economic impact of COVID-19 on African cities likely to be acute through a sharp decline in productivity, jobs and revenues, ECA
As part of its analysis to inform COVID-19 policy responses, the ECA is calling for adequate consideration of the vulnerability of city economies.
FAO and ITC commit to empower women agrifood traders in African Continental Free Trade Area
Spanning four countries – Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria and South Africa –, the programme was developed in 2021 to promote women’s participation in the AfCFTA and increase their access to capacity building and higher-productivity activities.
Elgon Kenya and Ministry of Agriculture target young farmers with new awards
Agro input company Elgon Kenya has partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Education to reward pupils and their teachers for participating in food production in a wider scheme that seeks to motivate school going children into farming.
[Interview] David Galadima, Founder, Graemoh Foods, Nigeria
Passionate about sustainable agriculture, aquaculture and food security in Africa, David is the founder of fast growing agriculture and processing company, Graemoh Foods, operating out of the northern state of Kaduna, Nigeria.
Aspiration partners with Trees for the Future to promote sustainable agriculture in Kenya
Aspiration, a high-impact climate finance company, has announced a $21 million investment in carbon projects through Trees for the Future (TREES), a non-profit organization training farmers in sustainable agroforestry practices across sub-Saharan Africa.
IFAD partners with AfDB to boost agricultural productivity in Africa
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) are joining forces to address the structural problems hampering agricultural productivity in Africa through a new programme aimed at feeding Africa sustainably.
ACTESA develops a regional seed information system
The Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), has developed a Seed Information System which will be used to measure performance of the COMESA Seed Trade Harmonization Implementation Plan (COMSHIP).
AfDB to commit $10 billion to make continent the breadbasket of the world
The African Development Bank Group, will commit $10 billion over the next five years to boost Africa’s efforts to end hunger and become a primary food provider for itself and the rest of the world.
ITFC and ISFD ink $150 million partnership to support least developed member countries
The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), both members of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, have announced the signing of the Trade Finance Support Program for the least developed member countries (LDMCs) affected by the COVID-19 and the food security crises.
U.S. Agencies forge partnership to improve food safety standards globally
The initiative includes the investment of $15 million over the next five years to support the availability and trade of safe food products to reduce poverty, hunger, and malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries.
East African Community bets on Bioeconomy Strategy to boost food security
Dr. Mathuki said that the bioeconomy strategy – the first of its kind in Africa and the second in the world after that of the European Union – will increase opportunities for the EAC Partner States to deepen their cooperation in developing a sustainable and resilient bioeconomy.
Tanzania to host the AGRF, Africa’s Food System Forum 2023
The AGRF, Africa’s Food Systems Forum, is the premier platform for advancing the agriculture and food systems agenda on the continent; from food security to agri-food investments.
Germany provides €30 million to IFAD's immediate response to the global food and energy crisis
Germany's funding will be channelled as immediate support, through existing IFAD programmes operating in countries that are hardest hit by setbacks.
African female policy practitioners selected for the AWARD new career development programme
African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) has announced the selection of 50 African mid-career women as Fellows in the first cohort of its newest two-year career development program.
Whole grain impact on global food security
The processing of these grains reduces their volume by 20 to 30 percent and removes even more of their nutritional value.
GAIN and CARE signed MoU to improve access to affordable healthy diets
CARE and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding, establishing a global partnership to improve access to affordable healthy diets.
Perennial rice incorporates African wild rice genes and halves production cost, study
The global population was projected to reach 8 billion by 15 November 2022, according to the UN’s recently-released World Population Prospects 2022.
[Column] Rajan Shah: Let’s make Kenya a sustainable agriculture powerhouse
Climate change has led to rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and extreme weather events, which have impacted food production and distribution systems globally.
AGRA, Barbados Government sign MoU for collaboration on Africa-Americas agri-food system transformation
The partnership will strengthen cooperation and advocacy in areas of common interest in food systems and climate change adaptation between relevant stakeholders in Barbados and Africa.
UNIDO and Camco to catalyze adaptation finance for climate-resilient agriculture in Southern Africa
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and climate and impact fund manager Camco have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to ramp up investments in climate-resilient agriculture in Southern Africa.
AGRA and Grow Asia in a deal to drive South-South Cooperation between Africa and Asia
South-South cooperation is characterized by technical collaboration by developing countries in the Global South.
Novo Nordisk Foundation, WFP launch partnership to improve food systems in Rwanda and Uganda
The Novo Nordisk Foundation and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have sealed a partnership to further advance WFP's homegrown school feeding and smallholder farmer support programmes in Rwanda and Uganda.
Project targets East African women livestock holders with lifesaving vaccines
Currently, 24 women have been trained across three countries to provide vaccination and animal health-related services to 140,000 farming households.
DATACONNECT est certifié ISO 27001 dans les zones UEMOA et CEMAC
DATACONNECT, filiale de New Digital Africa, fournisseur d’accès internet managé pour entreprise en Côte d’Ivoire, vient d’obtenir la certification ISO 27001.
Nigeria, Cameroon to join Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana cocoa initiative
Nigeria and Cameroon have expressed interest in joining the alliance for economic relations on cocoa between Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana; the two-leading cocoa-producing countries in the world.
OPEC Fund provides $20m loan to enhance social and economic infrastructure, improve livelihoods in Ghana
The OPEC Fund for International Development is providing a $20 million loan to the Republic of Ghana to support the Integrated Rural Development Project - Phase 2.
[Column] Apollos Nwafor: The Green Deal could help address Africa’s food security challenges
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has brought about new complexities in the global supply of staple food items and inputs like fertilizer, affecting many African countries.
[Column] Scott Coles: Climate change is making coffee growing in Africa difficult
Climatologists have warned that without action, coffee farmers in Africa will lose their livelihoods. So, if we want to keep enjoying that precious cup, we need to ensure our coffee is sustainably sourced.
AIIM-led consortium establishes $150m pan-African cold chain logistics platform to ensure food security
To improve essential temperature-controlled logistics infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa and ensure food security in the region, AIIM and its investment partners, have established a cold chain logistics platform, Commercial Cold Holdings (CCH).
[Kenya] Twiga Foods taps Google Cloud to enhance efficiency of the food value chain
Twiga Foods will leverage Google Cloud technologies in running an efficient food value chain that connects farmers directly with vendors to bring high quality, locally harvested fresh produce to people every day—increasing accessibility to food items in Kenya.
Novo Nordisk Foundation and World Food Programme launch partnership to improve food systems in Rwanda and Uganda
The Novo Nordisk Foundation has committed a $4.1 million grant to improve health, nutrition, food security and incomes for marginalized and vulnerable smallholder farming communities. The objective is to build the resilience and functionality of food systems in the most food insecure regions of both countries.
Syngenta launches world’s first commercial digital tool to detect harmful parasites through satellite images
This marks a breakthrough in the management of this devastating pest and is a product of Syngenta’s focus on delivering an expanding portfolio of digital and precision agriculture solutions to farmers worldwide.
FAO Food Price Index drops for the sixth consecutive month
The gauge for world food commodity prices declined for the sixth month in a row in September, with sharp drops in the quotations for vegetable oils more than offsetting higher cereal prices, according to a new report released today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
IFC launches financing platform to respond to global food crisis and build resilient food systems
A core part of the financing, which will be provided through the new Global Food Security Platform (the Platform), will support sustainable production and delivery of food stocks to countries affected by food instability.
Norway announced $9.2 million for the African Development Bank’s African Emergency Food Production Facility.
In the face of a looming food crisis that could hit Africa and other parts of the world on account of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Norway this week announced that it is providing 100 million Norwegian Kroner (approximately $9.2 million ) to the African Development Bank’s African Emergency Food Production Facility.
AIIM establishes $150 million cold chain logistics platform to tackle food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa
As global population grows and demand for food supply chains increase, demand for temperature-controlled logistics is also on the rise. This transaction therefore signifies AIIM’s entry into the cold storage sector which seeks to establish a pan-African cold storage platform.
Nestlé launches plan to drive regenerative agriculture and improve farmers’ livelihoods
The brand is working with coffee farmers to help them transition to regenerative agriculture while accelerating its decade of work under the NESCAFÉ Plan.
Ghanaian agritech startup Farmerline raises $1.5m from Dutch investor Oikocredit
Ghanaian agritech startup Farmerline announced the second close of a Pre-Series A investment raise with an additional $1.5 million investment from Dutch social impact investor Oikocredit.
African Development Bank issues $100m 7-year ''Feed Africa'' theme bond
The African Development Bank (AfDB), has issued a $100 million 7-year ''Feed Africa'' theme bond due September 2029. The new issuance was arranged by Citigroup Global Markets and sold to a single Japanese investor, Norinchukin Bank.
Nedbank partners with SA PALS to transform South Africa's agricultural sector
Nedbank has announced a partnership with South African Partners in Agri Land Solutions (SA PALS), to facilitate transformation in the agricultural sector through a funding programme in enterprise development.
Terraformation launches new alliance to tackle global seed shortage and scale reforestation
The Alliance will initially focus on inadequate seed supply as a barrier to reforestation at scale.
OPEC Fund provides $60m loan to promote food security, agricultural development in Côte d’Ivoire
The OPEC Fund for International Development is providing a $60 million loan in support of the Northern Agro-Industrial Pole Project (2PAI-Nord) in Côte d’Ivoire to finance the development of high-potential geographical areas called Agropoles.
How Africa can escape chronic food insecurity amid climate change, IMF
Climate change is intensifying food insecurity across sub-Saharan Africa, where Russia’s war in Ukraine and the pandemic are also adding to food shortages and high prices.
[Column] Agnes Kalibata: Responding to crisis, growing Africa’s food systems
The World Bank warns that for each one percentage point increase in food prices, 10 million people are thrown into extreme poverty. If food prices stay this high for a year, global poverty could go up by more than 100 million people.
Mastercard and Ecobank Group partner to digitize agricultural value chains in Africa
Under the partnership, Ecobank will extend the reach and impact of the Mastercard Farm Pass platform leveraging its Pan-African network of 33 countries.
COMESA, partners unveil digital regional food balance sheet
This initiative will help the region to inform policy and business decisions on food security, agricultural trade and investment.
UM6P Ventures invests in De Novo Dairy, an alternative dairy precision fermentation startup in Africa
UM6P Ventures has completed an investment in De Novo Dairy, a company that produces animal-free dairy products that provides the same sensory experience and nutrition as their traditional dairy counterparts.
IFC partners with Bar Magen to expand sustainable livestock production in Nigeria
To support the growth and sustainability of Nigeria's livestock industry, IFC announced a partnership with Agro Bar Magen Nigeria (ABMN), a livestock feed manufacturing company, to increase production of livestock feed.
AGRA and GAIN sign cooperation agreement to strengthen African food systems
The cooperation agreement covers GAIN support to the AGRF and working with AGRA to strengthen linkages between smallholder farmers and African agri-food companies, emphasizing better access to finance and technical skills for SMEs involved in the agri-food sector.
Donors launch initiative to transform agricultural interventions in Africa
The African Agricultural Transformation Initiative (AATI), has been launched to improve sustainable development in Africa by bridging the gap between the formulation of strategic agricultural initiatives and their successful implementation at local level.
USAID partners with AGRA and AFAD to improve Ghana farmers’ access to fertilizers
Ghana imports to meet almost all of its fertilizer needs, and the war is making it impossible for the commodity to come in from Russia and Ukraine, resulting in shortages, with the attendant hike in prices.
Urgent action is needed to improve Africa’s food systems
The impact of a series of crises is exacerbating vulnerabilities in Africa’s food systems. Things will get worse unless mitigating actions are taken now to safeguard Africa’s food security.
[Senegal] RTI invests in agriculture to spur economic growth
RTI International, a nonprofit research and global development institute, has been selected by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to lead a new program to sustainably reduce poverty and malnutrition in Senegal through growth in the agriculture sector.
ACTESA develops Regional Horticultural Observatory Programme
ACTESA, which is the agriculture arm of COMESA, worked closely with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) through international Development Consultant Rogers MacJohn to finalise the COMESA Horticulture Observatory Programme.
[Column] Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina: The African Emergency Food Production Facility
Today and well into the future, the African Development Bank is delivering a proven plan to unlock Africa’s food production potential and see Africa become a breadbasket to the world.
GE Foundation announces grant to support flood relief efforts in South Africa
The GE Foundation announced a donation of US$100,000 to support relief efforts in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal region, where nearly 125,000 civilians have been displaced following disastrous flooding due to heavy rainfall sustained in April.
The future of agricultural access to finance
The agribusinesses were assessed initially in 2019, then they were given targeted training and capacity building to increase their professionalism based on the results of their baseline assessment.
World Bank strengthens West Africa's food systems resilience with $315m financing
Additional 2 million people will benefit from a second phase of the West Africa regional Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP-2) approved for a total amount of $315 million in International Development Association (IDA) financing.
Côte d’Ivoire lance un projet agro-industriel d’envergure pour réduire ses importations alimentaires
Le Premier ministre ivoirien, chef de la Division agriculture à la direction générale pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest de BAD, des membres du gouvernement et des partenaires internationaux procèdent, au lancement officiel du Projet de développement du pôle agro-industriel.
Ecological farming a boon for staple crop farmers in Africa, new study finds
An international team of scientists has found that eco-friendly practices such as growing a range of crops, including legumes such as beans or pigeonpea, and adding plant residues or manure to soils can raise food crop yields in places such as rural Africa.
FSD Africa partners with Rabo Foundation to fund sustainable farming for African small-scale farmers
FSD Africa and Rabobank ACORN / Rabo Foundation have launched a collaboration to help African small-scale farmers transition to Agroforestry, a sustainable and climate resilient farming practice.
Oikocredit invests €2.7m in Africa Negoce Industries to support Benin cashew value chain
Social impact investor and worldwide cooperative Oikocredit has provided a credit line of € 2.7 million to Africa Negoce Industries (ANI), a cashew trading and processing company in Benin.
IFC partners with Jubaili Agrotec to enhance food security in sub-Saharan Africa
IFC and Jubaili Agrotec announced a partnership that will support the company to expand its regional footprint and increase thousands of smallholder farmers' access to key inputs such as fertilizer used to protect crops and increase food production.
Enabling over 5,000 African businesses to trade in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area
ITC’s partnership with Afreximbank supports innovative, green finance solutions, strengthens Africa’s creative economy through tailored trainings – with 5,000 small businesses skilled so far – and promotes African business opportunities within the Caribbean region.
African Development Bank approves more than $1 billion for emergency food production plan
The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved 24, fast-track programs to help Africa mitigate rising food prices and inflation caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine, climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The AFCFTA Secretariat, Afreximbank and WFP agreed to collaborate on agricultural development and trade in Africa
AfCFTA Secretariat, Afreximbank and WFP have signed a three-year MoU to disburse US$2 billion in farming loans and credit lines for agro-processors and commodity traders by 2025.
IFC and Zambeef partner to boost food security, strengthen Agribusiness in Zambia
IFC and Zambeef Products PLC, one of the region's leading agribusiness companies, are joining forces to boost food security and strengthen Zambia's agricultural sector to create jobs and help fight poverty.
GCF partners with FAO to support climate-resilient projects in Benin and the Gambia
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved $60 million in funding to support climate-resilient projects in Benin and the Gambia promoting sustainable practices in vulnerable rural communities of these countries.
[Nigeria] AfDB approves $134 million loan to boost local food production
The program will support fast-tracking of the implementation of key policy and institutional reforms and boost private sector participation in agriculture.
AfDB accorde plus de 20 millions de dollars à Madagascar pour renforcer sa sécurité alimentaire
Madagascar va recevoir du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement un financement de 20,20 millions de dollars américains pour accroître sa production de céréales et d’oléagineux.
[Column] Agnes Kalibata: The lessons learned from the last food crisis – A solution?
The situation is further compounded by rising energy prices, and disruptions to the supply of fertilisers, the prices of which are already fluctuating at levels unseen since the global financial crisis because of higher gas prices.
ETG and IFC partner to support smallholder farmers in Africa
ETC Group (ETG) and IFC announced a partnership to boost smallholder farmer productivity and food security across four countries in sub-Saharan Africa by increasing access to critical agricultural inputs and training services.
OPEC Fund provides $19m to support sustainable livelihoods in Lesotho
The OPEC Fund for International Development has become the largest supporter of a program that will create sustainable livelihoods in Lesotho with a $19 million loan.
USAID announces $35m in agriculture support for Malawi
The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), announced $35 million, subject to appropriations, in additional support for Malawi’s economic recovery.
[Column] Dr Agnes Kalibata: It’s time to step up Africa’s adaptation plans, for food and nutrition security
In the last five years, Africa has endured several shocks and stresses – from locust and Fall Army Worm attacks to droughts in Eastern Africa and floods in Southern Africa.
World Bank approves $2.3 Billion program to address escalating food insecurity in Eastern and Southern Africa
The World Bank Group approved a $2.3 billion program to help countries in Eastern and Southern Africa increase the resilience of the region’s food systems and ability to tackle growing food insecurity.
World Bank approves $2.3 billion programme to address escalating food insecurity in Eastern and Southern Africa
The World Bank Group has approved a $2.3 billion program to help countries in Eastern and Southern Africa increase the resilience of the region’s food systems and ability to tackle growing food insecurity.