“Mission 1 for 200” to double African farmers’ production | African Development Bank

The African Development Bank Group and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) are teaming up to help 40 million African farmers through a new initiative that will double productivity and produce 100 million tons of food for 200 million people.

Both organizations agreed to support the initiative, called Mission 1 for 200, during the Africa Food Summit in Dakar, which takes place this week. They aim to increase funding for the agricultural and food sector.

Mission 1 for 200 will build resilience by helping food systems and farmers adapt to climate change and reduce the environmental impact and emissions of agriculture. It will double agricultural productivity by using state-of-the-art, climate-smart technology and advice. In addition, the initiative will work to increase investment in fragile regions that are disproportionately affected by climate change and are often perceived as “too risky”.

To achieve these goals, Mission 1 for 200 will leverage the private sector, reduce risk and mobilize more private investment to promote improved and climate-friendly production and value addition. The initiative will also work to create an enabling and policy environment for food systems and provide delivery models that analyze supply chain structures to deliver services that improve smallholder productivity and profitability.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank Group, and Dr. Alvaro Lario, President of IFAD, signed a letter of intent to strengthen their partnership on the sidelines of the Africa Food Summit on ‘Food Sovereignty and Resilience’. The summit, which started on Wednesday and ends on Friday, is co-hosted by the government of Senegal and the African Development Bank. Bringing together African heads of state, agriculture ministers, finance ministers, central bank governors, private actors, farmers’ organizations and development partners, the summit mobilizes high-level political will and financial resources for food and agriculture supply pacts.

President Adesina said there was a strong commitment to meeting the need for additional funding in the agricultural sector of African countries from the start of the summit. Adesina said Mission 1 for 200 would provide a strong support and funding mechanism for African governments. “This groundbreaking initiative will incentivize innovative agricultural enterprises to boost food production, improve efficiency within a framework of improved market dynamics and sustainable food systems, encourage policy change and unlock co-financing opportunities through collaboration with other development partners, drawing on the expertise of both institutions ,” said Adesina.

IFAD chair Lario said only investments in agriculture that support small-scale farmers can lift Africa out of a “worrying downward spiral of crisis after crisis”. “Strategic investments will increase agricultural productivity, they will build food sovereignty and pave the way for more equitable distribution and access to food, creating opportunities for all.” said Lario. Leveraging the investments of both IFAD and the African Development Bank Group, Mission 1 for 200 will mobilize additional funding from innovative and non-traditional donor sources as well as private sector investors. The initiative builds on the momentum around climate adaptation and mitigation to approach green funds and climate funds as a supportive long-term solution.

Mission 1 for 200 welcomes the participation and contribution of other development partners.