AfDB Invests €100m to Power Cocoa Production in Côte d’Ivoire
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a €100 million agricultural commodity financing facility for Sucres et Denrées Côte d’Ivoire, in a move set to bolster the country’s cocoa value chain and support sustainable farming practices.
The financing package includes €25 million from the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF) – a co-financing initiative with the China Development Bank – and $10 million from the Bank’s Agribusiness Small and Medium Enterprise Catalytic Financing Fund (ACFM).
The renewable two-year facility will expand pre-financing arrangements with cooperatives and local suppliers, bridging critical funding gaps in a sector that contributes significantly to Côte d’Ivoire’s economy.
As the world’s largest cocoa producer, Côte d’Ivoire accounts for more than 40% of global supply, with output reaching 2.3 million metric tonnes in the 2022-2023 season. Despite recent weather-related challenges, the country remains pivotal to the international chocolate industry and commodity markets.
The new facility aims to enhance cocoa sourcing and export capacities while advancing climate resilience and supply chain traceability. It is expected to benefit more than 50,000 smallholder farmers – particularly youth and women – through improved financing and technical support.
Aligned with Côte d’Ivoire’s National Development Plan 2021-2025, the initiative seeks to accelerate agro-industrial diversification, strengthen rural employment opportunities, and help the country achieve its projected 6.5% GDP growth in 2025.
Beyond cocoa, the loan also addresses wider liquidity constraints across West African markets, reinforcing the region’s appeal to international investors and encouraging greater investment in agricultural value chains.
