Public Management

The Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism receives $7.3 million to boost agricultural productivity

The Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism receives $7.3 million to boost agricultural productivity
Thursday, 18 April 2024 18:58

Global Affairs Canada has provided $7.3 million in funding to the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) to enhance sustainable agricultural productivity and smallholder farmer livelihoods, particularly women and youth across Africa.

The financing will aid the Mechanism in replicating its credit guarantee programs, enabling fertilizer importers and aggregators to access the product on credit. It will also boost efforts to improve soil health and provide technical assistance to farmers.

Signed on 25 March 2024, the funding agreement between the earmarks CAD$10 million specifically to the Mechanism’s ‘Fostering Africa's agricultural productivity through fertilizer value chain financing’ (FOSTER) program. Administered by the African Development Bank Group, the Mechanism provides innovative financing to accelerate fertilizer use in Africa and improve agricultural productivity across the Bank’s regional member countries.

We thank Global Affairs Canada for its support to advance the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism's implementation of its Strategic Plan 2022-2028, which focuses on broadening access to finance through capital investments and policy reforms, among other priorities that benefit Africa’s smallholder farmers,” said Dr Beth Dunford, the Bank’s Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development.

Fertilizer is essential for food production, yet it is significantly underutilized in sub-Saharan Africa’s agriculture sector due to limited financing and technical know-how among farmers.

The FOSTER program targets 800,000 smallholder farmers, with 40% of beneficiaries expected to be women and 10% youth. It aims to provide access to and improve the utilization of 80,000 tons of organic and inorganic fertilizer, which is expected to increase yields by 30%.

Canada’s Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen, said: “Canada is proud to support resilient, climate-smart agriculture and adaptable food production systems in Africa. We remain committed to promoting inclusive, green growth in partnership with the African Development Bank, including through our contribution to the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism.

Under the FOSTER program, the Mechanism will extend credit guarantee facilities to the inputs supply chain in eight African countries. The program will also facilitate the formulation of fertilizer policies and regulatory frameworks to foster gender-sensitive and sustainable soil management practices.

Marie Claire Kalihangabo, Coordinator of the Mechanism, welcomed Global Affairs Canada as a new member and expressed readiness to collaborate with Canada to fulfill the AFFM’s mandate effectively.”

The FOSTER program aligns with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the Malabo Declaration. The program also resonates with Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy and its efforts towards gender equality and women's empowerment. It also complements Canada’s “Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health" initiative to boost food security and sustainability.

This initiative seeks to overhaul African agriculture into a productive, competitive, and sustainable sector through national Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts that were developed at the Dakar 2 Food Summit in January 2023, co-organized by the African Development Bank.

Canada’s funding announcement comes just weeks ahead of the African Union Commission’s Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit scheduled for 7-9 May 2024 in Nairobi.

logo BAD copy

Additional Info

  • communiques: Non
  • couleur: N/A
On the same topic
• The IMF has approved an immediate disbursement of $367 million to Ghana, bringing the total financial support provided to the country since May...
Zenith Bank is in advanced talks to acquire a tier-two bank in Kenya. The Central Bank of Kenya has raised capital requirements, triggering market...
• DPI acquires minority stake in Egypt’s largest private hospital group• Funds to support expansion across Egypt and key Gulf countries• Investment among...
WAEMU states collectively raised nearly 7,000 billion CFA francs in the first half of 2025, a record amount driven by increased financing needs, the...
Most Read
01

• Global coffee consumption projected to hit a record 169.4 million 60-kg bags in 2025/2026, up from...

Coffee: Global Consumption Expected to Reach Record Level in 2025/2026
02

• Investors seem to keep focusing on yields, which are high for the moment• New Leadership might see...

Afreximbank Bonds Retain Market Confidence Despite Moody’s Downgrade
03

• Algeria grants commercial 5G licenses to top three telecom operators: Mobilis, Djezzy, and Ooredoo...

Algeria Awards Commercial 5G Licenses
04

• ECOWAS Bank funds 47.7-km stretch of strategic 700-km road project• Lagos-Calabar highway seen boo...

Nigeria Secures $100 mln ECOWAS Bank Loan for Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway
05

• IFC teams up with AfDB and Nigeria’s EbonyLife to assess a new fund for African cinema• Sector cou...

IFC Plans Investment Fund to Help Grow African Film Industry
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

regie@agenceecofin.com 
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72
Média kit : Download

EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.