On 5 February 2026, the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group, working with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, launched AgriConnect Côte d’Ivoire in Abidjan.
Africa is investing quietly but steadily in its future. From transport corridors to agricultural reform, development banks are increasing funding to close infrastructure gaps and prepare economies for deeper trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The aim is straightforward: turn agriculture into a stronger engine for jobs and food sovereignty. AgriConnect is part of a broader programme launched in October 2025. The African Development Bank and the World Bank plan to mobilise more than $5 billion each year through 2030. Globally, the initiative intends to support more than 300 million farmers.
In Côte d’Ivoire, the programme fits into the National Development Plan (PND) 2026–2030. It also supports the National Agricultural Investment Programme (PNIA), which remains a core national priority.
Richard Ofori-Mante, Director of Agricultural Finance and Rural Development at the African Development Bank, described the programme as more than funding.
“AgriConnect is not just an initiative, it’s a platform for transformation,” he said, speaking on behalf of Martin Fregene, Acting Vice President for Agricultural, Social and Human Development.
“Agriculture is the most powerful lever for inclusive growth in Africa. By modernising value chains, strengthening institutions and mobilising innovative financing, we can create millions of decent jobs, especially for young people and women, while improving food sovereignty.”
The pressure to act is growing. According to Elhadji Adama Touré, the World Bank’s Head of Agriculture and Food Practice for West Africa, the numbers are clear.
“Over the next decade, 1.2 billion young people will enter the labour market globally,” he said. “The agribusiness sector has immense potential to absorb this demographic wave.”
For many African countries, agriculture remains the largest employer. Yet productivity remains uneven. Farmers often face limited access to credit, weak logistics and outdated infrastructure. AgriConnect aims to address these barriers through targeted investment and policy reform.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister for Food Production, Bernard Kini Komoé, welcomed the initiative as aligned with the country’s development plans. “AgriConnect is an opportunity for Côte d’Ivoire in its efforts to transform the agricultural sector, provide jobs for young people and women and strengthen national food sovereignty in line with the government’s strategic orientations as summarised in the National Development Plan 2026–2030,” he said.
Technical and financial partners attended the launch alongside private corporations and research centres. They reaffirmed their commitment to support implementation under the framework of the PND.
Stronger coordination between these partners is expected to improve delivery under the National Agricultural Investment Programme.
AfCFTA is gradually lowering trade barriers across Africa. However, integration only works if countries can produce competitively. That requires investment in farming systems, transport links and processing capacity.
AgriConnect Côte d’Ivoire forms part of that preparation. By strengthening agricultural value chains, the country improves its position in a larger African market.
Without these reforms, smaller producers could struggle to compete. With them, agriculture could drive growth beyond subsistence farming.
Funding commitments alone will not guarantee results. Implementation matters. Projects must reach farmers on the ground. Infrastructure must function. Financing must translate into jobs and higher productivity.
The launch in Abidjan signals intent. It shows coordination between development finance institutions and national government. Whether AgriConnect Côte d’Ivoire delivers lasting impact will depend on execution, oversight and sustained investment.
Africa’s development story does not always make headlines. Yet step by step, initiatives like this show a continent mobilising capital, reforming systems and building capacity for long-term growth.
