Ecobank and AGRA Launch Landmark Partnership to Unlock Africa’s Agricultural Potential

The agreement, signed during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, establishes a high-level cooperation framework focused on promoting sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture while empowering smallholder farmers, agribusinesses, women, and youth entrepreneurs.

The partnership combines Ecobank’s pan-African banking network with AGRA’s two decades of experience in agricultural transformation to address one of the sector’s biggest challenges — access to finance.

Anup Suri, Group Executive, Commercial and Consumer Banking at Ecobank Group, said the partnership reflects a shift in how Africa should view agriculture.

“To transform Africa’s economy, we must treat agriculture as a high-growth commercial sector rather than a subsistence activity,” he said. “Through this alliance with AGRA, Ecobank is unlocking the capital required to scale agribusinesses across the continent while building resilient food systems.”

Under the agreement, the two institutions will work together to develop innovative financial products tailored for agribusiness SMEs, cooperatives, and farmer organizations. These include working capital solutions, trade finance, and asset financing.

The collaboration will also focus on reducing the risks associated with agricultural lending through blended finance, guarantees, and risk-sharing mechanisms aimed at encouraging greater private-sector investment in agriculture.

Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA, emphasized that agriculture remains central to Africa’s economic future.

“Agriculture is not one sector among many for Africa; it is the foundation on which the continent’s entire development agenda rests,” she said. “By combining AGRA’s on-the-ground expertise with Ecobank’s reach and financial capabilities, we are creating opportunities for women and young people to build thriving agribusinesses.”

The partnership places special emphasis on women and youth-led enterprises by aligning Ecobank’s Ellevate initiative with AGRA’s Value4HER and YEFFA programs. The initiative aims to increase targeted financing, technical support, and capacity-building opportunities for young entrepreneurs and women operating in agriculture and food systems.

As climate change continues to threaten food security across Africa, the two organizations also pledged to promote climate-smart agriculture and mobilize green financing solutions that support sustainable land use and resilient agri-food systems.

The agreement comes at a time when African governments and development partners are intensifying efforts to modernize agriculture, improve food security, and create jobs for the continent’s growing youth population.

Industry observers say the Ecobank-AGRA partnership could play a significant role in accelerating agricultural commercialization and unlocking new investment opportunities across Africa’s food systems