West Africa

Across West Africa, we have partnered with private sector firms, international buyers, and financial institutions to build competitive agricultural markets and expand U.S. trade relationships. Our work spans agribusiness finance, input supply networks, enterprise development, supply chain quality, and export market facilitation.

Finance and Investment

We unlock agribusiness finance and investment by working on both sides of the problem: helping financial institutions understand the real risks and opportunities in agricultural lending, and helping agribusinesses become strong enough to attract that capital. Our programs build direct connections between lenders, investors, and agricultural enterprises, and support policy reforms that remove barriers to doing business, while improving production and management practices that make farms and firms creditworthy and profitable. 

  • $244M+ in finance and investment catalyzed for 18,400+ MSMEs (Nigeria)
  • $44M in annual sales generated through increased private investment (Burkina Faso)
  • 66% increase in farmer incomes driven by the increase in sales (Burkina Faso)

Trade and Markets

We expand agricultural trade partnerships by strengthening the export value chains that connect regional producers to American and international buyers. Our USDA-funded programs across cashew, cocoa, and sesame have improved farmer productivity, upgraded quality to meet buyer specifications, facilitated first-time exports to U.S. companies, and driven policy reforms that open markets and reduce trade barriers. 

  • $125M in cumulative cashew sales for partner farmers and processors across Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria
  • $6M in private sector investment leveraged (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria)
  • $26.8M in annual sales among partner cocoa farmers (Côte d’Ivoire)
  • First cocoa exports to U.S. chocolatiers facilitated (Côte d’Ivoire)
  • $5.8M in private sector investment leveraged (Ghana)

Input Supply and Distribution

We build private sector input supply networks—agrodealers, Farm Service Centers, and partnerships with international suppliers—that deliver quality products to farmers in rural markets. Our approach centers on strengthening commercially viable retailer networks, linking them to supplier credit and manufacturer partnerships, and professionalizing their operations so they can sustain and scale without continued donor support.

  • 17,000+ MT of fertilizer sold through private sector field days (Mali)
  • 54,000+ farmers reached through 62 agro-input company demonstrations (Mali)
  • 1,700+ agribusinesses trained across Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Senegal

Enterprise Capacity Development

We strengthen agricultural enterprises to operate as competitive, market-driven businesses—and connect them to the buyers, investors, and suppliers they need to grow. Through business training, organizational strengthening, and direct facilitation of commercial linkages, we help cooperatives, SMEs, and agrodealers improve their management practices, aggregate production, meet buyer quality requirements, and attract private investment. We help build the commercial relationships that drive growth and keep markets functioning after our programs end.

  • $27M+ in annual sales achieved by local market actors, a 172% increase (Mali)
  • $48M in sales over 5 years (Niger)
  • $41.5M in sales over 5 years (Burkina Faso)

Agricultural Productivity and Postharvest Management

We improve agricultural productivity and supply chain quality by upgrading production practices, expanding access to certified inputs, and partnering with private sector buyers to raise food safety and quality standards across their sourcing networks. Our work spans orchard rehabilitation, improved crop management, and whole-of-supply-chain approaches that reduce contamination, strengthen commercial sourcing, and help producers meet the specifications that buyers and export markets require.

  • 100,000+ hectares under improved management practices and technologies (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria)
  • 24,215 maize and soy stakeholders met food safety standards across Nestlé supply chain (Nigeria)
  • Nestlé partnership—whole-of-supply-chain approach to quality, safety, and transparency (Nigeria)
  • Iowa State University partnership—commercial seed industry development (Senegal, Burkina Faso)

Food Security and Nutrition

We strengthen local food supply chains by connecting producers, processors, and traders to market demand. By drawing on our expertise in market and food systems development, we support local producers, processors, and traders in developing systems that deliver healthy, nutritious foods to local, regional, and international markets. Alongside improved access to information and behavior change interventions, our approaches help rural communities increase their consumption of healthy, nutritious foods.

  • 40,000+ agribusinesses and producer groups partnered with to increase production and processing (Burkina Faso and Niger)
  • 39% increase in dietary diversity across participating communities over 5 years (Mali)