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 confirmed that the signing ceremony took place at the ECOWAS Headquarters.
The statement explains that the REWARD project aim to enhance public and private investments in rice value chains, leveraging successful business models.
“It is part of a broader regional rice development initiative financed by the AfDB across 15 West African countries”
According to the statement, the ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Alieu Omar Touray, signed 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.
It states that 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.
It stresses that during the signing, Dr. Touray expresses gratitude to the AfDB for the grant and reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to swift project implementation.
Also Dr. Kamara reiterates the Bank’s dedication to supporting ECOWAS in enhancing food security and resilience in line with ECOWAS Vision 2020.
