The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $211.4 million financing package to boost agricultural production and create thousands of jobs in eastern Angola, aiming to turn the region into a major food hub for Angola and neighbouring countries.
The Eastern Region Agricultural Value Chain Development Project will generate 7,500 direct jobs, with at least half reserved for women and one-third for youth, and benefit 1.2 million people across six provinces: Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Moxico, Moxico Leste, Cuando, and Cubango.
The funding includes $190.4 million from AfDB, $20 million from the Rome Process/Mattei Plan, and a $1 million grant from the Transition Support Facility, with the Government of Angola providing $100 million in parallel support.
The five-year project (2026–2031) focuses on three key areas:
Boosting agricultural output through climate-resilient seeds, rehabilitation of 2,500 hectares of irrigation systems, and developing 150,000 hectares of new farmland. 3,000 Farmer Field Schools will train smallholder farmers in modern techniques.
Infrastructure and market access, including rehabilitation of 400 km of feeder roads and six agribusiness centers to promote value addition and entrepreneurship.
Youth and women empowerment, with mechanization centers serving 900,000 farmers, half of them women, and a fertilizer program delivering 360,000 metric tons to increase productivity.
Pietro Toigo, AfDB Country Manager for Angola, said the project leverages the Lobito Corridor Economic Zone, turning infrastructure into a catalyst for regional food production, processing, and trade. “By combining technology, climate-smart infrastructure, and youth empowerment, we’re investing not just in agriculture, but in Angola’s future prosperity,” he said.
With abundant arable land currently underutilized, the project aims to reduce Angola’s reliance on food imports while boosting regional trade with southern African markets.
This landmark initiative also marks the first partnership between AfDB and the Government of Italy in the Lobito corridor, signaling a strategic push for sustainable economic growth in the region.
