By Abbas Nazil
The Government of Senegal, in partnership with the World Bank Group, has launched the AgriConnect Senegal Compact, a nationwide initiative designed to transform the country’s agri-food systems, strengthen food security and create up to 800,000 formal jobs by 2029.
The ambitious programme brings together government institutions, international development partners, private sector actors and producer organizations under a coordinated platform aligned with Senegal’s National Agenda for Transformation 2050 and the Food Sovereignty Strategy 2025–2034.
AgriConnect is focused on modernising agriculture through targeted investments, policy reforms and private sector engagement to drive innovation, competitiveness and sustainable growth across the food system.
The initiative prioritises three major value chains — grains, horticulture and livestock — which are considered critical to national food security, rural livelihoods and economic diversification.
Through large-scale investment in agricultural infrastructure, improved services for farmers and agribusinesses, and reforms to strengthen the business environment, the Compact aims to unlock productivity and attract new capital into the sector.
Public and private efforts will be combined to improve access to markets, enhance processing capacity and support modern farming practices that can increase incomes and resilience for millions of Senegalese families.
By 2029, AgriConnect is expected to raise national food security levels to over 90 percent while significantly expanding domestic production of staple crops.
Key targets include boosting cereal coverage from 48 percent to 78 percent, increasing rice self-sufficiency to 64 percent and establishing 100 community-based agricultural cooperatives across the country.
Government leaders have described the Compact as a major shift in how agricultural development is planned and delivered, replacing fragmented interventions with a coordinated, results-driven approach.
Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo noted that AgriConnect provides a structured platform for developing project pipelines under the national transformation agenda, ensuring strategic coherence and operational efficiency across sectors.
He stressed that all participating stakeholders are being guided by measurable outcomes focused on improving livelihoods and strengthening food systems.
Minister Mabouba Diagne added that the initiative will directly support farmers, raise household incomes and create attractive employment opportunities for young people in modern and profitable agriculture.
The World Bank Group, through its institutions including IDA, IFC and MIGA, has pledged strong financial and technical backing to translate the Compact’s goals into tangible impact on the ground.
World Bank Vice President for Western and Central Africa Ousmane Diagana emphasised that AgriConnect is designed to harness both public and private investment to achieve food sovereignty, job creation and shared prosperity.
Governance of the initiative is being led at the highest level by the Minister of State responsible for monitoring the Senegal 2050 National Agenda, ensuring strong political oversight and accountability.
Operational implementation will be managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock through its Delivery Unit, supported by a joint steering committee and a Technical Group of Partners.
The Compact was developed in close consultation with major international organizations and donors, including IFAD, FAO, WFP, AfDB, AFD, JICA, GIZ, the Netherlands, the MasterCard Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
This broad collaboration reflects strong global confidence in Senegal’s agricultural reform agenda and its potential to deliver long-term food security and economic transformation.
As AgriConnect moves into implementation, it is expected to position agriculture as a central engine of growth, employment and resilience, helping Senegal build a modern agri-food system capable of feeding its population and competing in regional markets.
