Senegal launches AgriConnect Pact to boost food security and farm jobs

SENEGAL – Senegal has launched the AgriConnect Pact, a new program developed with the World Bank Group to strengthen food sovereignty and expand jobs in farming and agro industry.

The government introduced the initiative on February 10 and linked it to the Senegal National Transformation Agenda 2050 and the Food Sovereignty Strategy 2025 to 2034. Officials say the country wants to secure more than 90 percent of its food needs by 2029 and create 800,000 formal jobs across agricultural value chains.

Authorities also expect the plan to help 18.8 million people move out of food and nutrition insecurity by raising local food production and improving supply systems.

The program targets cereals, horticulture and livestock. It will channel funds into farm infrastructure and services, adjust sector policies to improve the business climate, and attract private investors to support innovation and competitiveness. The government also plans to set up 100 community agricultural cooperatives.

“AgriConnect is a model platform for structuring a portfolio of projects linked to the National Transformation Agenda,” said Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo, Minister in charge of monitoring, steering and evaluation of the Senegal 2050 National Agenda for Transformation. “Through sector program contracts that involve all stakeholders, it aims to achieve the expected impacts of the Senegal 2050 Vision, sovereign, just and prosperous.”

By the end of the program, officials expect cereal production to meet 78 percent of local demand, up from the current 48 percent.

Strong financial backing

The World Bank said it will double its annual financing for agribusiness in Senegal under this initiative. Through the International Finance Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, the institution plans to mobilize an additional US$5 billion by 2030.

The funding will support private investment, industry partnerships, local processing and access to digital tools for farmers.

Agriculture currently receives less than 5 percent of total bank credit in Senegal, largely due to climate risks, unstable yields, weak value chain structures and limited collateral. This funding aims to ease those constraints and unlock growth in the sector.

Official data show that Senegal cultivates about 2.5 million hectares out of a potential 3.8 million hectares. The country uses only about 5 percent of its irrigation potential, estimated at 400,000 hectares.

Limited local production has increased reliance on imports. UNCTAD data show that Senegal spent an average of US$1.88 billion per year on food imports between 2021 and 2023, making it the second highest spender in WAEMU after Côte d’Ivoire. Cereals such as wheat and rice, along with cooking oils, account for a large share of that bill.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.