Nigeria played a prominent role at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Regional Implementation Workshop, held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from June 23 to 25, 2026, as governments, development partners and farmer organisations from across West and Central Africa gathered to strengthen rural development initiatives.
The workshop, organised by IFAD, brought together government officials, project implementation teams, farmer organisations and development partners involved in IFAD-supported programmes to assess implementation progress, exchange experiences and identify practical strategies for delivering greater impact.
The regional forum provided participants with an opportunity to review achievements, share lessons learned from ongoing projects, address common implementation challenges and explore innovative approaches to improving programme performance.
Discussions focused on accelerating rural transformation through more effective project delivery, increased agricultural productivity, enhanced food security, improved rural livelihoods and stronger resilience among farming communities.
Participants also examined ways to strengthen collaboration among governments, development institutions and farmer organisations to ensure that investments translate into sustainable economic opportunities for rural populations.
Nigeria’s participation highlighted the country’s commitment to implementing impactful agricultural and rural development programmes that improve farmers’ incomes, expand access to markets and strengthen value chains.
Stakeholders emphasized the importance of knowledge sharing and regional cooperation in addressing common agricultural challenges, including climate change, financing gaps, low productivity and limited market access.
The workshop further underscored IFAD’s commitment to supporting member countries in designing and implementing inclusive programmes that promote sustainable agriculture, empower rural communities and reduce poverty.
The outcomes of the meeting are expected to guide future implementation of IFAD-supported projects across West and Central Africa, helping participating countries, including Nigeria, deliver stronger results in agricultural development, food security and rural economic growth.
