COTE D'IVOIRE - Programme for Opening Up Cross-Border and Agricultural Areas - Phase 2 (PD-ZTA-2)

The proposed operation concerns an AfDB loan of €115.66 million to the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire for the Programme for Opening Up Cross-border and Agricultural Areas – Phase 2 – (PD-ZTA-2). The Programme is designed to address a major development issue in Côte d'Ivoire, namely persistent poverty in rural areas with high agricultural potential, particularly in the regions of Bounkani, Tonkpi, Marahoué, Béré and Gontougo. Despite their fertile soils and significant contribution to national agricultural production, including cashew nuts, yams, rice, cassava and market garden crops, these regions remain isolated and struggle to market their produce due to poor and deteriorating transport and market infrastructure. The PRD-ZT-2 is therefore expected to play an important role in improving distribution channels for agricultural inputs and production and marketing of such production in consumer areas.