The Pan African Farmers’ Group (PAFO) and the African Improvement Financial institution (www.AfDB.org) are strengthening their collaboration to boost assist for small-scale farmers throughout Africa. A PAFO delegation led by its President, Ibrahima Coulibaly, visited the Financial institution’s headquarters on December 13, 2024, to advance the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in October 2023.
Dr. Martin Fregene, Director of the Agriculture and Agro-industry, reaffirmed the Financial institution’s dedication to the partnership, highlighting its investments in agriculture, which have benefited over 14 million producers by means of initiatives that present inputs and enhance market entry. He acknowledged persistent challenges within the sector and welcomed concepts from civil society organizations like PAFO to boost the Financial institution’s affect.
Coulibaly outlined PAFO’s mission and strategic priorities to empower smallholder farmers and advocate for his or her rights, stressing the necessity for larger strategic assist from the Financial institution to deal with challenges in agriculture, which has the potential to unravel 80% of the continent’s issues.
The assembly culminated in plans to collectively host a Excessive-Degree Convention on Financing Small-Scale Farmers within the second quarter of 2025. This occasion will rally stakeholders to debate the monetary wants of small-scale farmers and discover sustainable options to enhance livelihoods. Moreover, the 2 organizations agreed to develop a complete motion plan specializing in capability constructing, know-how integration, and entry to finance, notably for girls and youth farmers.
“The Financial institution’s ‘Feed Africa’ technique is a vital step towards reworking Africa’s farming sector, and we’re excited to work with the Financial institution to assist form this imaginative and prescient,” stated Coulibaly. “Via this partnership, we’re dedicated to serving to farmers acquire the assist and assets they should succeed, particularly girls and youth.”
This partnership aligns with the Financial institution’s ‘Excessive 5’ priorities, notably “Feed Africa,” and builds on its dedication to fostering collaboration with civil society organizations. The Financial institution acknowledges the essential function of such organizations in driving sustainable growth.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Improvement Financial institution Group (AfDB).
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About PAFO:
PAFO has its headquarters in Kigali, Rwanda. It’s a continental platform representing dozens of small-scale farmers’ organizations that embody tens of hundreds of thousands of ladies and men from round 50 African international locations. PAFO consists of 5 regional Farmer Networks in Africa : Jap Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF), Plateforme Régionale des Organisations Paysannes d’Afrique Centrale (PROPAC), Réseau des Organisations Paysannes et de Producteurs de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (ROPPA), Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), Union Maghrébine et de l’Afrique du Nord des Agriculteurs (UMNAGRI).