Ecobank Group and AGRA have announced a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the agricultural ecosystem in Africa. Signed during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi on 11th May, this MoU brings together Ecobank’s extensive pan-African banking network and AGRA’s deep expertise in agricultural transformation to improve access to finance for agribusinesses, farmer organisations, and key value-chain actors.
The two institutions are combining their strengths to address the critical challenges of agricultural financing, commercialisation, and climate resilience.
“To transform Africa’s economy, we must treat agriculture as a high-growth commercial sector rather than a subsistence activity,” said Anup Suri, Group Executive Commercial and Consumer Banking Ecobank Group. “Through this strategic alliance with AGRA, Ecobank is unlocking the massive capital required to scale agribusinesses across the continent. We are de-risking the sector, backing women and youth entrepreneurs, and building a resilient food system that will power Africa’s next decade of growth.”
Alice Ruhweza, President, AGRA, said agriculture is the foundation on which the continent’s entire development agenda rests. “As African leaders advance the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) strategy for the decade ahead, this partnership with Ecobank translates that ambition into action,” Ruhweza. “AGRA, working with its partners, has over the last twenty years established evidence, value chain knowledge, and on-the-ground insight into the opportunities for women and young people to build agribusinesses that thrive.”
The partnership is built on several strategic pillars designed to catalyse long-term impact across the agricultural sector. Ecobank will develop and deploy tailored financial solutions, including working capital, asset finance, and trade finance. To overcome traditional barriers to agricultural lending, the partners will collaborate on structuring risk-sharing facilities, guarantees, and blended finance mechanisms.
AGRA, on the other end, will provide catalytic funding support, beneficiary mobilisation, and technical assistance to enhance the financial literacy, governance, and investment readiness of agribusiness SMEs and cooperatives.
Placing a strong emphasis on empowering marginalised groups, the partnership links Ecobank’s Ellevate program with AGRA’s Value4HER (women in agribusiness) and YEFFA (youth entrepreneurship) initiatives to increase targeted financing and capacity-building for women- and youth-led enterprises.
As climate change increasingly impacts food systems, the collaboration will actively promote sustainable land use and mobilise green financing instruments to support climate-resilient agri-solutions.
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