The ECOWAS Commission and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed a $12 million grant agreement to implement the Rice Resilient Value Chains Development Project (REWARD) in West Africa.
A statement from the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja confirms that the signing ceremony took place at the ECOWAS Headquarters.
The REWARD project aims to enhance public and private investments in rice value chains, leveraging on successful business models. It is part of a broader regional rice development initiative financed by the AfDB across 15 West African countries.
ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Alieu Omar Touray, signed the agreement on behalf of the Commission, while AfDB’s Director General for Nigeria, Dr. Abdul Kamara, signed on behalf of the Bank’s President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.
The REWARD project is a key component of a larger $650 million multinational program designed to achieve rice self-sufficiency across all ECOWAS Member States.
Dr. Touray expressed gratitude to the AfDB for the grant and reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to swift project implementation.
Dr. Kamara reiterated the Bank’s dedication to supporting ECOWAS in enhancing food security and resilience in line with ECOWAS Vision 2020.
