The Pan African Farmers' Organisation (PAFO) has collaborated with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to boost support for smallholder farmers across Africa
A deligation from PAFO visited the AfDB headquarters on 13 December to advance the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in October 2023. PAFO president Ibrahima Coulibaly highlighted PAFO's mission and strategic priorities to empower smallholder farmers and advocate for their rights, stressing the need for greater strategic support from the Bank to address challenges in agriculture, which has the potential to solve 80% of the continent’s problems.
The meeting culminated in plans to jointly host a High-Level Conference on Financing Small-Scale Farmers in the second quarter of 2025. This event will rally stakeholders to discuss the financial needs of small-scale farmers and explore sustainable solutions to improve livelihoods. Additionally, the two organisations agreed to develop a comprehensive action plan focusing on capacity building, technology integration, and access to finance, particularly for women and youth farmers.
This partnership aligns with the Bank’s ‘High 5’ priorities, particularly the 'Feed Africa' strategy, and builds on its commitment to fostering collaboration with civil society organisations.
PAFO and AfDB solidify their collaboration to support small-scale farmers
Group photo of the delegation of the Pan-African Farmers' Organisation (PAFO), led by its president, Ibrahima Coulibaly (seated, third from the right), with Martin Fregene, director of the Agriculture and Agro-Industry department at the AfDB (seated, third from the left). (Image source: AfDB)
