ECOWAS and African Development Bank Sign $12M Grant Agreement for Rice Value Chain Development in West Africa.
By Raymond Enoch
In a significant step towards enhancing food security and economic resilience in West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed a $12 million grant agreement for the implementation of the Rice Resilient Value Chains Development Project (REWARD).
The agreement, signed today March 10,th 2025, at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, marks a major milestone in the region’s drive for rice sovereignty.
The REWARD project, which aims to promote both public and private investments in rice value chains, is part of a broader regional rice development initiative funded by the AfDB. Spanning across 15 West African countries, the project seeks to strengthen rice production, processing, and marketing, ensuring a more resilient and self-sufficient rice industry.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Alieu Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, and Dr. Abdul Kamara, the AfDB Director General for Nigeria, who signed on behalf of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the AfDB.
Dr. Touray, in his remarks, expressed ECOWAS’ sincere gratitude to the AfDB for its unwavering support and commitment to this ambitious project, pledging to work swiftly to ensure its successful implementation.
“We are deeply grateful for the African Development Bank’s partnership in this critical project,” said Dr. Touray. “This agreement represents a major step toward enhancing food security and self-sufficiency across our Member States, and ECOWAS remains committed to seeing the REWARD project succeed.”
The REWARD project is part of the AfDB’s $650 million, multinational, and multiphase program aimed at boosting rice production and reducing dependence on rice imports in the ECOWAS region.
This initiative is fully aligned with the ECOWAS Vision 2020, which prioritizes food security and resilience as central pillars for sustainable regional development.
Dr. Kamara, representing the AfDB, emphasized the bank’s continued commitment to supporting ECOWAS in building a more resilient and food-secure West Africa. “This partnership reinforces our collective vision of a food-secure and resilient West Africa,” Dr. Kamara said, adding that the REWARD project would foster sustainable agricultural growth by promoting best practices and fostering innovations in rice production.
The signing ceremony represents a significant step toward creating a sustainable rice industry in West Africa, one that will not only meet local demand but also pave the way for greater regional integration and economic growth.
As the project unfolds, it holds the promise of transforming the rice sector in West Africa, creating jobs, improving livelihoods, and contributing to the region’s long-term food security goals.
