RICOWAS Project Approved!

October 30, 2021

Largest global SRI scaling-up project - named RICOWAS - will be implemented over 4 years in 13 West African Countries starting early 2022. The RICOWAS project builds on the SRI methodology in combination with agroeco-zone specific Sustainable Land and Water Management (SLWM) practices, which will maximize the adaptation potential of vulnerable rice production systems throughout West Africa.

We will implement best practices for irrigated rice systems, rainfed lowland and upland systems and mangrove rice systems from the semi-arid to humid climate zones of West Africa. This is the largest project funded by the Adaptation Fund, as well as the largest SRI scaling-up project at the global level. We expect the project to create a long-lasting and profound impact for West African rice farming to sustainably grow rice, adapt to climate change and to reduce greenhouse gases, all at once. We also expect this project to be an inspiration on how to change rice production at the global level, and to mobilize more support to make that change happen.

Funded by the Adaptation Fund (AF), The Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), in its capacity as a Regional Entity Accredited by the AF, will oversee the project overall implementation. The Rice Regional Center of Specialization, hosted by the Institute of Rural Economy (IER) of Mali, will be in charge of the regional level execution and will work in partnership with the Climate Resilient Farming Systems program at Cornell University, in the United States.

At the country level, the following national institutions will be in charge of the project execution:

Benin: General Secretariat of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (GS/MALF)/National Institute of Agricultural Research of Benin (INRAB)
Burkina-Faso: Ministry of Agriculture and Hydro-agricultural Development/General Directorate of Sector Studies and Statistics
Côte d'Ivoire: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development/National Rural Development Support Agency (ANADER)
The Gambia: Ministry of Agriculture
Ghana: CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI)
Guinea: Agronomic Research Institute (IRAG)
Liberia: Community of Hope Agriculture Project (CHAP)
Mali : National Directorate of Agriculture (NDA)
Niger: National Institute of Agronomic Research of Niger (INRAN)
Nigeria: Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN)
Senegal: National Agency for Agricultural and Rural Advice (ANCAR)
Sierra Leone : Rokupr Rice Research Center / Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI)
Togo: Institute of Technical Advice and Support (ICAT)

Many technical and scientific partners from the public, private and civil society sectors of the region will be involved in the project implementation, including in particular CILSS, CORAF, ECOWAS, UEMOA, AfricaRice, etc.

Preparatory activities will begin straightway and the project official start is expected on the 2022 first quarter.