West Africa’s agricultural sector faces a multitude of complex and interrelated challenges, from climate change and market volatility to epidemics, security threats, drought, and irregular migration. Since 2014, PARM and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have been working together to strengthen agricultural resilience and improve food security and food sovereignty across the region. This long-standing partnership has highlighted the need to scale up successful initiatives already implemented in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, and Senegal, and adopt a coordinated regional approach.
From 16 to 20 June 2025, PARM and ECOWAS convened Member States and key stakeholders in Lomé, Togo, providing a platform for dialogue to pave the way towards a stronger regional dynamic in support of a more resilient and protected agricultural sector. Participants included representatives from IFAD, the European Union, the French Embassy in Togo, the French Development Agency, the Italian Consulate, Proparco, ECOWAS Member States, ECOWAS Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF), the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), agri-preneurs, farmers’ organizations, insurance companies, researchers, and many others. Supported by approximately 80 online attendees, the gathering served to share agricultural experiences and best practices, and to lay the foundations for an integrated and coordinated Agricultural Risk Management (ARM) programme to enhance resilience and food sovereignty across West Africa.
Opened by Massandje Touré-Litse, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, the five-day workshop featured insightful, high-level panel discussions on themes such as de-risking agricultural investment, institutionalizing ARM for lasting impact, the role of the private sector, and empowering women and youth to foster social inclusion. These panels were followed by interactive group sessions which sparked rich dialogue, practical ideas, and a shared vision for a programme that is both ambitious and grounded in regional realities. The participants’ dedication culminated in the development of a concept note that will serve as the cornerstone of a bold and ambitious initiative: the “Regional Integrated Agricultural Risk Management Programme in West Africa” (PRIGRAO, French acronym).
PRIGRAO: a transformative, forward-looking programme to de-risk agricultural investment in West Africa
Designed to strengthen the resilience of agricultural systems and rural communities in the face of climate, economic, and health risks, PRIGRAO is a 10-year programme with an estimated cost of US$300 million. It is built around four strategic components: (i) Integrating agri-risk management into policy and investment frameworks; (ii) Capacity development and institutionalization of agri-risk management; (iii) Agri and climate risk insurance for resilient agriculture; and (iv) Agriculture for job creation and women/youth empowerment through agri-preneurship and innovation.
Building on its participatory formulation process, PRIGRAO will continue to uphold this spirit throughout its implementation. The programme is designed to be inclusive and collaborative, ensuring the active involvement of a wide range of stakeholders. These include regional and international technical and financial partners, farmers’ organizations, academic institutions, research centers, banks, insurance companies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and international financial institutions (IFIs). By fostering strong partnerships and leveraging diverse expertise, PRIGRAO aims to create a shared sense of ownership and accountability, ensuring that its interventions are context-specific, impactful, and sustainable across West Africa.
PARM, ECOWAS, and all involved stakeholders are now more committed than ever to bringing PRIGRAO to full maturity, shaping it into a fully operational programme that delivers tangible impact on the ground for a resilient, inclusive, de-risked, and prosperous agricultural future in West Africa.
Watch the video and relive the key moments that shaped this important step forward:
