By Faridat Salifu
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has launched a $211.4 million initiative to strengthen climate-resilient agriculture and empower young people and women in eastern Angola.
The Eastern Region Agricultural Value Chain Development Project targets six provinces—Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Moxico, Moxico Leste, Cuando, and Cubango—creating 7,500 direct jobs, with at least 50 percent for women and 33% for youth, while benefiting 1.2 million people across the region.
The project combines $190.4 million from AfDB, $20 million from the Rome Process/Mattei Plan Financing Facility, and a $1 million grant from the Transition Support Facility, alongside $100 million in parallel support from the Angolan government.
Pietro Toigo, AfDB Country Manager for Angola and Sao Tome & Principe, said the project will transform the Lobito Corridor Economic Zone from a logistics hub into a regional agricultural powerhouse.
“We’re equipping communities with climate-smart infrastructure, modern irrigation, and skills to generate sustainable livelihoods,” he said.
The programme will develop 150,000 hectares of farmland, rehabilitate 2,500 hectares of irrigation systems, and establish 3,000 Farmer Field Schools to teach smallholders best practices in sustainable farming.
Six mechanization centers and agribusiness hubs will improve access to tools, markets, and value-added processing, particularly for women and youth.
The project also prioritizes fertilizer access through a Partial Credit Guarantee scheme, enabling delivery of 360,000 metric tons, and rehabilitates 400 km of feeder roads to connect farmers to markets.
Neeraj Vij, AfDB Regional Sector Manager, emphasized that targeting youth and women ensures inclusive economic growth.
“This project is not just about farming; it’s about creating opportunities for wealth generation, entrepreneurship, and community empowerment,” he said.
By leveraging Angola’s abundant natural resources and its strategic location along the Lobito Corridor, the initiative is expected to position eastern provinces as key suppliers for regional markets, extending Angola’s agricultural influence across southern Africa.
Implementation runs from 2026 to 2031 under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, marking a landmark partnership between the AfDB and the Government of Italy through the Rome Process Financing Facility – Piano Mattei.
