The African Development Bank Group, in partnership with the Africa Rice Centre (AfricaRice) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has launched the Strengthening Adaptation to Climate Change of Rice Value Chains in West Africa (REWARD-AfricaRice) programme.
REWARD-AfricaRice is a $8.5 million African Development Bank-funded multinational technical support project designed to strengthen rice value chains through improved seed production, sustainable farming practices, better processing technologies and enhanced regional coordination. Implemented through 2029, it will cover the following 14 countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
Launched in Bouaké, central Côte d'Ivoire, on February 13, 2026, the programme aims to address persistent structural challenges in the rice sector as West Africa faces rapid population growth and urbanisation. It will strengthen climate-resilient rice production, improve seed systems, bolster processing capacity and accelerate regional rice self-sufficiency.
The regional REWARD programme is projected to boost yields from two to seven tons per hectare while increasing average annual farmer incomes from $1,385 to $1,605. By reducing imports and reinforcing regional integration, it seeks to build more resilient rice value chains. The launch ceremony brought together senior representatives of beneficiary countries, national project implementation units, research institutes and development partners.
"Rice is a strategic commodity for food sovereignty and economic resilience in West Africa. The REWARD programme demonstrates the power of regional collaboration to advance our common food security agenda," said ECOWAS representative Boladale Adebowale.
Eklou Attiogbevi-Somado, Regional Manager for Agriculture and Agro-Industry in West Africa, said: "The REWARD programme is part of the African Development Bank Group's strategy to strengthen food systems in Africa. By investing in resilient rice value chains, we support regional integration, job creation and long-term economic stability in West Africa."
"Rice self-sufficiency in West Africa is imperative for both economic and food-security reasons. REWARD combines science, innovation, institutional strengthening and regional coordination to build resilient rice value chains that benefit farmers, processors and consumers across the region," Baboucarr Manneh, Director General of AfricaRice, said.
The program is also projected to create up to 78,000 jobs, including approximately 39,000 jobs for women.
