AfDB approves new grant to support climate resilience in the Sahel

SAHEL – The African Development Fund approved a grant of US$14.64 million in Abidjan on November 21 to support Project 2 of the Programme to Strengthen Resilience to Food and Nutrition Insecurity in the Sahel, also known as P2-P2RS.

Officials say the support comes from the Climate Action Window, which the African Development Bank Group created to boost financing for climate work across Africa.

AfDB leaders say the grant will help communities face rising extreme weather. An official noted that “the support will improve how communities adapt as the region continues to face stronger and more frequent climate shocks.”

The project team will work directly with local groups to build simple but effective solutions that help farms and households handle changing weather patterns.

The project will set up climate-smart villages around new and existing hydroagricultural sites. These sites will allow farmers to access improved seed varieties with stronger resilience and better yields. The support will also update the Regional Catalogue of Species and Varieties and create a B2B networking portal for seed producers.

AfDB staff say the strengthened seed system will help communities recover faster after climate shocks. One technical expert explained that “farmers need seeds that give them a fair chance during tough seasons, and this project offers that.”

The project will also train national agricultural research teams and seed companies so they can produce enough vegetable seeds for these villages. Women and young people will receive targeted training and support to help them take part in the climate-smart village model.

The grant will fund new systems for climate and impact data collection. Teams will develop an integrated digital platform that handles real-time data, products, and services. The project will also introduce a regional system for tracking loss and damage.

This work includes the standardization of loss and damage data across countries and the creation of a multi-scale digital platform to manage this information.

The Climate Action Window grant will support 30 municipalities and set up 60 climate-smart villages. Project leaders say they want these communities to gain practical tools that help them protect food and income sources.

A project representative said, “real-time data and strong local systems help communities act early, not after damage occurs.”

The approval comes as global partners continue to increase attention on the Sahel’s climate challenges. AfDB says the new funding adds momentum to ongoing regional efforts and will strengthen local resilience strategies already in motion.

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