The Pan African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO) and African Development Bank Strengthen Partnership to Support Small-Scale Farmers
Pan African Farmers Organization (PAFO) and the African Development Bank (African Development Bank website) are strengthening cooperation to strengthen support for smallholder farmers in Africa. On December 13, 2024, a delegation led by PAFO President Ibrahima Couliba visited the bank’s headquarters to promote the implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed in October 2023.
Dr. Martin Fregene, Director of Agriculture and Agricultural Industries, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to this partnership and highlighted the Bank’s investments in agriculture, which have enabled more than 14 million productive people through initiatives to provide inputs and improve market access. who benefit. He acknowledged the sector’s ongoing challenges and welcomed ideas put forward by civil society organizations such as PAFO to enhance the Bank’s influence.
Coulibaly outlined PAFO’s mission and strategic focus to empower smallholder farmers and advocate for their rights, emphasizing the need for greater strategic support from the Bank to address challenges in agriculture, which has the potential to solve 80% of the continent’s problems.
The meeting finally decided to jointly hold a high-level meeting on smallholder financing in the second quarter of 2025. The event will bring together stakeholders to discuss the financial needs of smallholder farmers and explore sustainable solutions to improve livelihoods. Additionally, the two organizations agreed to develop a comprehensive action plan focusing on capacity building, technology integration and financing opportunities, particularly for women and young farmers.
“The Bank’s ‘Feeding Africa’ strategy is an important step in transforming Africa’s agricultural sector, and we are pleased to work with the Bank to help shape this vision,” Coulibaly said. “Through this partnership, we are committed to helping farmers, especially women and youth, get the support and resources they need to succeed.”
This partnership is aligned with the Bank’s Big Five priorities, particularly Feeding Africa, and builds on its commitment to promote collaboration with civil society organizations. The Bank recognizes the critical role of such organizations in promoting sustainable development.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
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About Paphos:
PAFO is headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda. It is a continental platform representing dozens of small-scale farmers’ organizations, including tens of millions of women and men from some 50 African countries. PAFO is composed of five regional farmers’ networks in Africa: the East African Farmers’ Federation (EAFF), the Regional Platform of Farmers’ Organizations in Central Africa (PROPAC), the West African Farmers and Producers Organizations Network (ROPPA), the Southern African Federation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), the M Gribbin and the North African Agricultural Union (UMNAGRI).
