IFC, AfDB launch program to support farmers

In order to boost the professional capacities, incomes and access to finance of thousands of Ivorian women smallholder farmers in the staple food sector, IFC and the African Development Bank's Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative announced today a new partnership program.

The three-year advisory project - in consultation with Côte d'Ivoire's government and financial institutions will support 200 women-led farmer organizations in the West African nation. The IFC-AfDB Women-led Staple Food Cooperatives Advisory Project aims to assist largely informal organizations and smallholder women farmers with the formalization process. Project support will offer training on a variety of professional practices, including technical, business, and financial and contracting skills.

As part of the project, IFC and the African Development Bank will work directly with financial institutions in Côte d'Ivoire, helping them better understand and meet women's financing needs. In addition, the project will serve as a platform to sustain collaboration with the government to improve the business environment for women-led cooperatives through legal, regulatory, and institutional reforms.

"This comprehensive project with the African Development Bank is an excellent opportunity for Ivorian women-led farmers to create and develop their businesses. Affordable and sustainable finance for women is a priority for IFC because of its potential to support entrepreneurs and their families, as well as to grow the wider economy," said Aliou Maiga, IFC Regional Director for West and Central Africa.

Agriculture accounts for about a quarter of Côte d'Ivoire's GDP and almost half of its employment. Women farmer cooperatives in the country often lack access to financial training and skills. Moreover, they don't have access to market knowledge and the required standards, which limit their incomes and growth opportunity.

"Working with the government of Côte d'Ivoire to address the bottlenecks facing women cooperatives in staple crops production and improving their enabling business environment will positively impact food production in the country but also enhance women-led cooperatives ability to fully participate in the economic growth of the country."