The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed a $12 million grant agreement to implement the Rice Resilient Value Chains Development Project (REWARD) across 15 West African nations.

According to a statement from the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, the signing ceremony took place at the ECOWAS Headquarters, marking a significant step toward enhancing regional rice production. The project aims to strengthen public and private investments in rice value chains using successful business models.

ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Alieu Omar Touray, and AfDB’s Director General for Nigeria, Dr. Abdul Kamara, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective institutions. The REWARD initiative forms part of a broader $650 million multinational program designed to drive rice self-sufficiency across ECOWAS Member States.

During the signing, Dr. Touray expressed gratitude to the AfDB for its support, emphasizing ECOWAS’ commitment to ensuring the project’s swift execution. Dr. Kamara reaffirmed the AfDB’s dedication to strengthening food security and resilience in alignment with ECOWAS Vision 2020.

This initiative represents a crucial step toward reducing rice imports and fostering a sustainable agricultural sector in West Africa.