Scaling Innovation to Boost Food Systems and Support Job Creation

A new regional initiative expands climate-smart solutions from West to East Africa, reaching more than 1.5 million farmers and food systems actors

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2026 - The World Bank Group (WBG) today approved a fourth phase of the West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) to help strengthen food security and accelerate job creation across the continent. The $46 million Accelerating Innovation and Catalyzing Capacity for Resilience in Africa (AICCRA-FSRP4) - financed by the Association for International Development (IDA), the Policy and Human Resources Development Fund (PHRD) - Global South Pillar, and the Food Systems 2030 Multi-Donor Trust Fund and granted to the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) - will scale agricultural innovations, raise productivity, and support economic and job opportunities in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Senegal, and Zambia, with expected benefits beyond these countries.

Reaching more than 1.5 million farmers and food-system actors, AICCRA-FSRP4 builds on earlier phases of the FSRP and the ongoing Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research in Africa (AICCRA) program to bridge the gap between research institutions and farmers by expanding access to climate-smart agriculture and climate information services. Implemented in partnership with leading CGIAR research centers, it will accelerate the delivery of high-impact, proven innovations, including drought-tolerant rice and maize varieties, digital climate advisory platforms, and solar-powered irrigation systems. More than 250,000 farmers will adopt climate-smart technologies as a result. These efforts draw on the strong foundation established by previous AICCRA phases, which have promoted 165 innovations and delivered climate-smart services to over 11.6 million people.

With agriculture accounting for 52% of Africa's workforce, the project places strong emphasis on skills development and entrepreneurship to expand employment opportunities. The project will further support 150 entrepreneurial ventures, strengthen or establish 25 incubators and accelerators, and enable $16.5 million in private capital to unlock job opportunities in agribusiness and Ag-Tech. Through challenge funds, matching grants, and targeted partnerships with the private sector, including partnership with leading African universities such as University Mohamed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) in Morocco, the initiative is designed to stimulate market-driven innovation with strong employment potential.

"Job creation is a core pillar of this new initiative, designed to benefit a wide ecosystem of actors and to deepen our commitment of helping African countries build stronger, climate-smart food systems - in line with the WBG's Mission AgriConnect dedicated to generating employment within agrifood value chains," said Chakib Jenane, World Bank Regional Director for Planet. "By scaling proven innovations and strengthening institutions, we are enabling millions of farmers, particularly women and young people, to become more productive, more competitive, and better prepared for climate shocks."

The FSRP program's strong regional architecture remains central to its effectiveness. At least eight national and regional institutions will be strengthened to deliver innovation at scale, while enhancing agricultural data systems and national soil hubs to support more accurate, climate-informed decision-making.

"Climate risks, pests, data systems, and markets do not stop at borders," says Marina Wes, World Bank Acting Director for Regional Programs. "By working through regional partners such as CORAF [West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development], AGRHYMET [Agriculture, Hydrology, and Meteorology Regional Centre], ASARECA [Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa], CCARDESA [Center for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa], ICPAC [IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre], and others, AICCRA-FSRP4 accelerates the transfer of innovations across countries, reduces duplication, and amplifies impact for the entire continent."

AICCRA-FSRP IV builds on the robust evidence generated from earlier phases of the FSRP. To date, the broader program has reached 2.9 million beneficiaries, enabled nearly 1 million producers to adopt climate-smart technologies, extended agrometeorological services to 962,000 actors, and contributed to a 30 percent reduction in food insecurity in targeted areas. The new phase will expand these gains further by scaling the newest and most effective agriculture innovations available, by introducing a novel focus on private-sector solutions and on skills development for better jobs, and by consolidating robust digital strategies at the regional level - strengthening Africa's capacity to respond to climate risks and to support food and livelihood security.

Contacts:

• In Washington: Aby K. Touré, [email protected]
• In Accra: Kennedy Fosu, [email protected]
• In Addis-Ababa: Gelila Woodeneh, [email protected]
• In Bamako: Edmond Badge Dingamhoudou, [email protected]
• In Dakar: Seydina Alioune Djigo, [email protected]
• In Lusaka: Carlyn Hambuba, [email protected]
• In Nairobi: Vera Rosauer, [email protected]