The African Development Bank (AfDB) on 3 August, signed a US$28mn loan agreement in Conakry with the transitional government in Guinea to support agropastoral development, digitalisation and market access in the country
The objective of the project is to improve the contribution of agriculture to Guinea's economic development while ensuring food and nutritional security for rural households and enhancing their incomes, financial inclusion, and resilience to climate change. Besides promoting the production of maize and soya for processing into poultry and livestock feed, the project also fosters the development of processing and marketing infrastructure for the two target sectors, including grazing facilities. Moreover, it will also help strengthen resilience to climate change among agricultural producers and livestock farmers, support women’s empowerment and reduce vulnerabilities and inequalities between men and women in agriculture.
Guinean Minister of the Economy and Finance, Moussa Cissé expressed the government's appreciation for the Bank for its support for the development efforts in Guinea. He further highlighted the innovative nature of the project, particularly in digitisation and financial inclusion, while urging the key actors involved, including the project management unit, to act diligently and show dexterity in implementing the project. The Bank’s country manager in Guinea, Léandre Bassolé also expressed his delight with the project’s expected impact on the livelihoods in Guinea and urged officials involved in its implementation to use the resources mobilised judiciously.
“We are delighted with the quality of our cooperation and the impact the project will have on the people of Guinea, not only through improving food and nutritional security but also the incomes of agricultural producers and livestock farmers,” said Cissé.
