Enviro News Asia, Conakry — The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) partnered with the World Bank Group and the Government of Guinea to accelerate agricultural transformation through the AgriConnect Guinea Pact, launched in Conakry on 30 April 2026.
The initiative aims to strengthen food security, create jobs, and drive economic growth by transforming Guinea’s agri-food systems into more resilient and market-oriented sectors. The program adopts a comprehensive approach that integrates investment, value chain development, and rural empowerment.
IFAD Country Director for Guinea, Ann Turinayo, stated that the organization will contribute through its AgriFARM project by promoting inclusive and sustainable rural transformation, particularly for small-scale farmers.
AgriConnect partners will align their efforts with the national Programme Simandou 2040, prioritizing key agricultural value chains such as rice, poultry, and fonio, while also supporting complementary sectors including maize, soybeans, and mangoes.
Despite recent economic growth driven by mining and agriculture, nearly half of Guinea’s population continues to live below the international poverty line. The initiative seeks to address these challenges by increasing productivity, strengthening food systems, and improving livelihoods.
By 2030, the AgriConnect Guinea Pact targets significant improvements in food and nutrition security, along with the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs across agricultural value chains. The program also aims to reduce reliance on food imports, particularly rice and poultry, while boosting exports of high-value crops such as fonio and mangoes.
IFAD has maintained a long-term presence in Guinea since 1980, investing over $270 million in development programs that have benefited more than 650,000 rural households.
Through this collaboration, IFAD and its partners aim to build a more sustainable, inclusive, and productive agricultural sector that supports long-term economic resilience in Guinea. (*)
