International Development Grant

Support to Agricultural Research in West and Central Africa - II

Project Number: CA-3-A035187005

Status: Closed

Country/Region: Unknown

Regional Focus:

South of Sahara 100%

Maximum Contribution: $4,000,000.00

Start Date: March 15, 2011

End Date: September 30, 2017

Duration: 6.5 years

Project Description

This project aims to support the institutional capacity building and research activities of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (WECARD). The goal of this support is to contribute to the development and dissemination of innovative agricultural technologies and knowledge to local farmers and producers who are directly implicated in the region's agricultural production and food security. The main research areas that WECARD aims to explore include the following sectors: (1) livestock fisheries and aquaculture; (2) staple crops; (3) non-staple crops; (4) natural resource management; (5) biotechnology and biosafety; (6) policy markets trade institutions and socio-economics; (7) knowledge management; and (8) capacity strengthening. This component represents the second part of CIDA's contribution to the project which is worth $10 million in total. The activities continuing in this component were initiated in component number A035187-001 (Support to Agricultural Research in West and Central Africa - I)

Progress & Results Achieved

Results achieved at the end of the project (September 2017) include: (1) disseminated over 170 improved technologies and innovations in Burkina Faso Mali Cameroon Ghana Benin and Senegal; (2) developed 6 strategies to improve productivity in animal husbandry fisheries aquaculture and non-food crops in Guinea Bissau Cape Verde and Chad; (3) developed a policy on assessing risks associated with genetically modified organisms and a strategy aimed at improving the performance of subregional agricultural markets; (4) 30 678 beneficiaries adopted an improved technology promoted by the project; and (5) established 130 innovation platforms in commodity value chains in the region. These technologies and strategies helped improve and increase agricultural production by African small-scale farmers.

Key Information

Executing Agency:
IBRD Trust Funds - World Bank

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
WGM Africa

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Agricultural extension 35%
Agricultural research 65%

Aid Type: Contributions to specific-purpose programmes and funds managed by implementing partners

Collaboration: Bilateral

Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation

Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP

Policy Markers
Level 1 Gender equality
Level 1 Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting)
Major Funding (>$1M)
Budget Breakdown
2012-04-01 to 2013-03-31 $4,000,000 CAD
Geographic Information
000
Project Number: CA-3-A035187005