Description

The RIZAO (Rice in West Africa) program is a structuring regional initiative aimed at the integrated transformation of the rice value chain in West Africa. It is based on a systemic approach covering all links: seeds, production, processing, distribution, and consumption. Its central objective is the large-scale creation of decent jobs for young people, particularly women, by structuring a competitive, inclusive, and market-oriented rice ecosystem. The program acts as a catalyst for agro-industrial development by simultaneously strengthening supply (production) and demand (local consumption).

Objectives

🌾 Supporting Seed Businesses:
Financing and training to create youth-led seed companies, ensuring a supply of quality seeds.

🚀 Empowering Young Smallholder Farmers:
Improving productivity and resilience through capacity building and access to inputs.

🏭 Boosting Employment Through Processing:
Supporting processing businesses to generate jobs, especially for women.

📈 Improving Market Access and an Enabling Environment:
Promoting locally grown rice and reducing poverty by using market mechanisms, while strengthening the legal and institutional framework.