The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the World Bank Group, in collaboration with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, have officially launched the AgriConnect country component for Côte d’Ivoire. This is a major initiative aimed at transforming agriculture into a powerful engine of job creation, inclusive growth and national food sovereignty.
The launch took place in Abidjan on February 5, 2026, bringing together senior representatives of both development finance institutions, Ivorian government leaders, private sector stakeholders, research institutions, and key partners across the agricultural value chain.
Transforming agriculture into a platform for economic growth
AgriConnect is part of a broader global effort to modernize agriculture and unlock its massive employment potential, especially for young people and women.
“AgriConnect is not just an initiative, it is a platform for change,” said Richard Ofori Mante, Director of Agricultural Finance and Rural Development at the African Development Bank.
“Agriculture is Africa’s most powerful lever for inclusive growth. By modernizing value chains, strengthening institutions and mobilizing innovative finance, we can create millions of decent jobs while improving food sovereignty.”
Facilitating $5 billion in annual global investment
AgriConnect was jointly launched by the World Bank and AfDB in October 2025 with the goal of mobilizing more than $5 billion annually by 2030.
This global initiative aims to support more than 300 million farmers around the world by investing in:
Climate-resilient infrastructure
Agricultural policy reform
Innovative and blended financing mechanism
Value chain modernization
Stronger institutions and market systems
In Ivory Coast, AgriConnect works directly with the country’s National Development Plan (PND) 2026-2030.
Utilizing agriculture as employment for young people
The initiative comes amid increasing demographic pressures and an urgent need for job creation.
Elhadj Adama Touré, Head of Agriculture and Food Practice for West Africa at the World Bank, highlighted the role of agriculture in absorbing the global youth workforce surge.
“Over the next 10 years, 1.2 billion young people will enter the labor market around the world,” he said.
“The agribusiness sector has immense potential to absorb this demographic wave. AgriConnect aims to mobilize innovative investments to transform farms into businesses and agriculture into opportunities.”
Government welcomes strategic opportunity
Ivory Coast’s Minister of Food Production, Bernard Kini Comoe, welcomed AgriConnect as a major opportunity to advance the country’s development priorities.
“AgriConnect is an opportunity for Côte d’Ivoire…to transform its agricultural sector, provide jobs for young people and women, and strengthen the nation’s food sovereignty,” he said.
The initiative supports the government’s strategic direction under the PND 2026-2030 and complements the country’s National Agricultural Investment Program (PNIA).
Key focus areas: Modern value chain and rice sector support
AgriConnect targets value chain development across priority crops and sectors, including rice, and AfDB is already supporting countries to:
Strengthening the irrigation system
Improving access to quality seeds
Upgrade the shedding and processing units
Expand your storage infrastructure
Facilitate market access
These investments are expected to increase productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen domestic food supplies.
Collaboration with strong partners to support implementation
The technical and financial partners present at the launch reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the implementation of AgriConnect in line with Ivory Coast’s national priorities.
The initiative is expected to strengthen collaboration between the PNIA and development partners working with the government to realize the broader agricultural transformation agenda.
AgriConnect is positioned as a foundational initiative for Côte d’Ivoire’s future economic resilience and food sovereignty by mobilizing finance, modernizing infrastructure and creating pathways for youth and women to engage in agribusiness.
