AfDB awards $16.6m to IITA for climate-smart agriculture

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have signed a $16.61 million grant agreement to launch the third phase of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation programme (TAAT-III).

The agreement, signed on February 18, 2026, in Abuja, is aimed at scaling up climate-resilient food production systems across Africa.

It reinforces a joint commitment to modernising the continent’s agriculture sector through the deployment of proven technologies, stronger seed systems, and expanded collaboration among research institutions, governments, and private sector stakeholders.

Since its inception in 2018, the TAAT initiative has grown into one of Africa’s leading platforms for agricultural innovation.

The programme has reached nearly 25 million farmers and promoted climate-smart practices across more than 35 million hectares of farmland.

Working in partnership with the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and other national and regional bodies, TAAT has recorded yield increases of up to 69 per cent for key staple crops.

The initiative has also generated over $4 billion in additional agricultural value across participating countries.

Nations such as Sudan, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Nigeria have reported significant improvements in crop productivity and resilience to climate-related shocks under the programme.

Nigeria, in particular, has benefited from the TAAT Wheat Compact, where farmers who adopted improved heat-tolerant wheat varieties more than doubled their yields—from 1.7 tonnes per hectare to 3.5 tonnes per hectare.

The new funding under TAAT-III is expected to further accelerate the adoption of innovative agricultural technologies, boost food security, and strengthen Africa’s capacity to respond to climate change challenges.