PAFO and African Development Bank Strengthen Partnership to Help Small-Scale Farmers
The Pan African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO) and the African Development Bank are strengthening their collaboration to reinforce help for small-scale farmers throughout Africa. A PAFO delegation led by its President, Ibrahima Coulibaly, visited the Bank’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 Bank’s dedication to the partnership, highlighting its investments in agriculture, which have benefited over 14 million producers by way 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 reinforce the Bank’s influence.
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 help from the Bank to handle challenges in agriculture, which has the potential to resolve 80% of the continent’s issues.
The assembly culminated in plans to collectively host a High-Level Conference 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. Additionally, the 2 organizations agreed to develop a complete motion plan specializing in capability constructing, expertise integration, and entry to finance, notably for ladies and youth farmers.
“The Bank’s ‘Feed Africa’ strategy is an important step toward transforming Africa’s farming sector, and we are excited to work with the Bank to help shape this vision,” stated Coulibaly. “Through this partnership, we are committed to helping farmers gain the support and resources they need to succeed, especially women and youth.”
This partnership aligns with the Bank’s ‘High 5’ priorities, notably “Feed Africa,” and builds on its dedication to fostering collaboration with civil society organizations. The Bank acknowledges the essential position of such organizations in driving sustainable growth.
About PAFO:
PAFO has its headquarters in Kigali, Rwanda. It is a continental platform representing dozens of small-scale farmers’ organizations that embody tens of thousands and thousands of ladies and men from round 50 African nations. PAFO consists of 5 regional Farmer Networks in Africa : Eastern 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).
