IFAD joins Government of Angola and partners to advance agricultural transformation through AgriConnect

Posted On: June 25, 2026
Posted By: Richmond Frimpong
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Luanda, 25 June 2026 – The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) today joined the Government of Angola, the World Bank Group and development partners in launching the Angola AgriConnect Compact, an ambitious initiative aimed at transforming the country’s agri-food systems, creating jobs and improving the livelihoods of rural communities.

AgriConnect is a World Bank Group initiative designed to help 300 million smallholder farmers worldwide move from subsistence to surplus production. The initiative focuses on strengthening agricultural ecosystems through stronger farmer organizations, improved market linkages, enhanced access to finance and digital solutions, and greater private sector participation across food systems.

As the only international financial institution exclusively focused on rural transformation, IFAD brings a unique contribution to AgriConnect by working with small-scale farmers at the first mile of food systems to strengthen value chains and create jobs, expand market access and build resilience.

In Angola, AgriConnect will support agricultural development in the Lobito and Malanje Corridors, leveraging partnerships across government, development institutions, the private sector and farmer organizations to unlock the country’s agricultural potential and accelerate inclusive rural development.

©AfDB

“AgriConnect presents a unique opportunity to transform rural livelihoods by connecting smallholder farmers to markets, finance, technology and productive infrastructure,” said Custodio Macavele, IFAD Country Director for Angola. “IFAD is proud to partner with the Government of Angola, the World Bank Group and other stakeholders to ensure that rural women, men and young people can participate in and benefit from a more productive, resilient and inclusive agricultural economy.”

Through the Compact, farmers and agribusinesses will benefit from a comprehensive package of support services, including agronomy and livestock advisory services, agricultural extension and technical assistance, rural finance, epidemiological surveillance, post-harvest management, food processing, and investments in rural infrastructure such as irrigation systems, markets and feeder roads.

The initiative will also promote greater private sector engagement in agricultural value chains while expanding access to financial services and credit for farmers and rural enterprises. These investments are expected to increase productivity, strengthen food security, create employment opportunities and stimulate economic growth in rural areas.

As a long-standing partner of Angola’s rural development efforts, IFAD brings decades of experience in supporting smallholder farmers, strengthening value chains and improving access to markets and financial services.

The Angola AgriConnect Compact reflects a shared commitment to transforming the Lobito and Malanje Corridors into engines of inclusive economic growth, improving food systems and creating sustainable opportunities for millions of rural people.

AgriConnect is backed by a commitment from the World Bank Group to double its annual financing for agriculture and agribusiness to US$9 billion and mobilize an additional US$5 billion from partners. The initiative is supported by a coalition of development and private-sector partners, including IFAD, the African Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, Bayer and Google.

At the AgriConnect initiative announcement in October 2025, IFAD pledged to reach at least 70 million small-scale farmers and significantly transform their lives by increasing their incomes, productive capacity and market access by 2030. This pledge reflects the aggregate planned beneficiaries of over 200 IFAD-supported projects that will be implemented globally across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the Middle East, between 2025 and 2030. The majority of outreach will be concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and in low-income countries.

Media contact: Pauline Akolo | [email protected] |

The Cooperative Force in Action: Implications of Socodevi’s 2026 Conference for Cooperative Development in Ghana

Posted On: June 30, 2026
Posted By: Richmond Frimpong

The recent Socodevi 2026 Conference, held on June 12 at Hôtel Le Bonne Entente in Québec City under the theme “The Cooperative Force: Joining Forces to Multiply Impact,” sends a strong message about the growing relevance of cooperative enterprises as vehicles for sustainable development. According to the conference report, Socodevi highlighted the achievements of its 34 projects worldwide, which collectively reached approximately 4.6 million people during the year. The gathering brought together member institutions, administrators, donors, partners, and stakeholders to review progress and strengthen collaboration. For Ghana, where cooperative development remains central to agricultural transformation, rural livelihoods, and local economic growth, the conference has significant implications. Reinforcing the Importance of Cooperative Models The theme of the conference emphasizes the power of collective action. In Ghana, cooperatives continue to play a crucial role in sectors such as cocoa, shea, cashew, fisheries, credit unions, and agribusiness. Socodevi’s reaffirmation of the cooperative model demonstrates that sustainable development is most effective when producers, communities, financial institutions, and development partners work together. The conference highlights a global recognition that cooperatives are not merely social organizations but viable economic enterprises capable of generating wealth, creating jobs, and improving resilience among vulnerable populations. Strengthening Agricultural Value Chains Socodevi has been actively involved in Ghana through projects such as PROCED in the Upper East Region, TogetHER in the Ashanti and Western North regions, and other initiatives that focus on cooperative governance, entrepreneurship, women’s economic empowerment, and agricultural development. The conference outcomes suggest that future interventions in Ghana will likely continue to prioritize professionalization of farmer organizations, improved cooperative governance, business-oriented management systems, market access enhancement, financial inclusion, climate resilience and risk management For Ghana’s cocoa sector in particular, these priorities are critical. As the industry faces challenges including climate change, aging farms, low productivity, and sustainability requirements, stronger cooperatives can serve as platforms for farmer training, access to finance, crop insurance, and certification schemes. Increased Opportunities for Development Partnerships The conference brought together donors and strategic partners from across the world. This demonstrates Socodevi’s ability to mobilize international support for cooperative development. For Ghana, this presents opportunities for: new development financing, technical assistance, knowledge transfer, innovation partnerships and South-South cooperation Local cooperatives and farmer-based organizations can benefit from exposure to international best practices and access to global networks that may otherwise be unavailable.