World Bank Allocates £30 Million to Transform Smallholder Farming Across Three Continents
Nairobi, 1 April 2026
The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program has committed $38.75 million to support 175,000 smallholder farmers through 16 producer organisation-led projects spanning 27 countries. This funding comes as West and Central Africa face unprecedented food insecurity, with 55 million people projected to experience crisis-level hunger by August 2026. The initiative prioritises women farmers and strengthens cooperative networks that enable small producers to negotiate better prices and access essential resources.
How Farmer Cooperatives Access GAFSP Funding
The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program operates through producer organisations rather than individual farmers, creating a pathway for collective agricultural development [1][2]. These farmer-led cooperatives serve as the primary mechanism for accessing the $38.75 million in grants announced on 1 April 2026 [1][2]. The program specifically targets producer organisations that can demonstrate their capacity to support smallholder farmers in pooling resources, negotiating better market prices, and accessing technical support [1][2]. According to GAFSP Program Head Shobha Shetty, ‘Producer organizations unite the many millions of people working across the agrifood sector to ensure small producers can seize new economic opportunities’ [1][2].
Specific Project Examples and Funding Distribution
The funding allocation demonstrates GAFSP’s strategic approach to addressing diverse agricultural challenges across different regions. In Benin, the National Platform of Farmers’ and Agricultural Producers’ Organizations will receive a $2.5 million grant to support 11,000 young people and women in vegetable and poultry value chains over four years, with indirect benefits reaching 66,000 additional people [1][2]. Similarly, Sri Lanka’s Federation of Thrift and Credit Cooperative Societies will receive $2.5 million to improve climate resilience and market access for 10,000 smallholder farming families across four districts [1][2]. In Haiti, the Union of Cocoa Cooperatives of the North will receive $2.49 million to strengthen livelihoods and climate resilience for small-scale cocoa producers, with training programmes reaching 2,000 farmers over four years [1][2].
Women Farmers Take Centre Stage
The 2026 funding cycle places particular emphasis on expanding opportunities for women farmers, coinciding with the International Year of the Woman Farmer [2]. GAFSP-funded projects aim to strengthen women’s leadership within producer organisations, recognising their critical role in food security and agricultural productivity [2]. This focus addresses a significant gap in agricultural development, where women often lack equal access to resources, training, and decision-making positions within farming cooperatives [GPT]. The strategic emphasis on women farmers reflects growing recognition that gender equality in agriculture is essential for achieving broader food security objectives [GPT].
Addressing Critical Food Security Challenges
The timing of this funding announcement proves particularly crucial as West and Central Africa face mounting food security pressures. GAFSP data indicates that 55 million people in these regions are projected to face crisis-level food insecurity during the June to August 2026 period [1][2]. This projection underscores the urgency behind the program’s mission to strengthen agricultural systems and build resilience against climate shocks, conflict, and economic volatility [1][2]. Agnes Kalibata, co-chair of the GAFSP Steering Committee, emphasises that ‘at a time when development finance for agriculture is under pressure globally, these GAFSP grants will strengthen the institutions that allow smallholders to invest, innovate, and build resilience in the face of multiple shocks’ [1][2]. Since its establishment in 2010, GAFSP has mobilised over $2.44 billion in donor contributions, supporting agri-food sector projects across 55 low-income countries [1][2], demonstrating the program’s sustained commitment to agricultural development and food security.