A farmer in traditional attire carrying containers in a thriving agricultural field.
The World Bank and the Office Chérifien des Phosphates Group have announced a partnership to support farmers in Togo and other West African and Sahelian countries. This development follows the World Bank’s inaugural operation of Togo’s new Development Policy Financing series ($150 million) in September. Aligned with commitments in the Lomé Declaration endorsed by member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in May, this latest partnership aims to benefit five million farmers in Togo, Guinea, Mali, and Benin, covering 10 million hectares. Areas of cooperation include improving soil health and fertility, establishing agricultural technology and service centers, launching a Digital Farming School program, strengthening ECOWAS capacity, and supporting the establishment of a Regional Center for Soil Health and Fertility Management in West Africa hosted by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Under this partnership, both institutions reaffirm their commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG2 on hunger and food security, and SDG13 on climate change.