AfDB Injects $211.4 Million to Boost Agriculture and Create Jobs in Eastern Angola
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a $211.4 million (approximately £169 million) financing package to revitalise agriculture and create thousands of jobs in eastern Angola, marking a significant step towards transforming the region into a food hub for the country and beyond.
The Eastern Region Agricultural Value Chain Development Project seeks to harness the region’s strategic location along the Lobito Corridor Economic Zone to strengthen food security, improve livelihoods and promote regional trade.
According to the AfDB, the initiative will create 7,500 direct jobs, with at least half reserved for women and one-third for young people. It is expected to benefit over 1.2 million people across six provinces including Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Moxico, Moxico Leste, Cuando, and Cubango.
The financing package includes a $190.4 million loan from the AfDB, $20 million from the Rome Process/Mattei Plan Financing Facility, and a $1 million grant from the Transition Support Facility Pillar IV.
“This transformative project represents a key to turning the Lobito Corridor from a logistic infrastructure into a development catalyst,” said Pietro Toigo, AfDB Country Manager for Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe. “By combining cutting-edge technology, climate-smart infrastructure and youth empowerment, we’re not just investing in agriculture, we’re investing in Angola’s future prosperity and food sovereignty.”
Despite having 35 million hectares of arable land, Angola cultivates only 17 percent, relying heavily on food imports. The eastern region, rich in water and fertile soil, has remained underdeveloped due to decades of conflict and limited investment.
The new project aims to reverse that trend through three key components: boosting agricultural productivity, enhancing agribusiness value chains, and improving rural infrastructure. It will rehabilitate 2,500 hectares of irrigation systems, develop 150,000 hectares of farmland, and establish 3,000 Farmer Field Schools to train smallholder farmers.
Six agribusiness centres will be created to foster entrepreneurship and value addition, while 400 km of feeder roads will be rehabilitated to connect rural communities to markets and the Lobito Corridor.
A partnership with the African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism will ensure improved access to agricultural inputs through a Partial Credit Guarantee scheme, facilitating the delivery of 360,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser, a major leap from the current usage of just 7.9 kg per hectare.
“This project is a catalyst for inclusive growth,” said Neeraj Vij, AfDB Regional Sector Manager. “By deliberately targeting women and youth, we’re ensuring that economic transformation reaches those who need it most.”
The project, which runs from 2026 to 2031, will be implemented by Angola’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. It also represents the first co-financing venture between the AfDB and the Government of Italy under the Rome Process – Piano Mattei, which contributed EUR 20 million to the initiative.
The Angolan government will provide $100 million in parallel financing, including subsidies, technical support and credit lines through local financial institutions.
With its integration into the Lobito Corridor, connecting Angola with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the project has the potential to reshape agricultural trade across southern Africa, positioning eastern Angola as a future food basket for the region.
