Ecobank Group and AGRA have signed on 11th, may 2026, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a high-level cooperation framework to promote sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural growth across the continent. The partnership focuses on de-risking agricultural lending through blended finance, risk-sharing facilities, and tailored financial products designed for agribusiness SMEs and smallholder farmers. The collaboration will specifically target women- and youth-led agribusinesses by aligning Ecobank’s Ellevate initiative with AGRA’s Value4HER and YEFFA programs.
Signed during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi on May 11, this MoU brings together Ecobank’s extensive pan-African banking network and AGRA’s deep expertise in agricultural transformation to improve access to finance for agribusinesses, farmer organisations, and key value-chain actors.
Recognising that agriculture is the backbone of the African economy, the two institutions are combining their strengths to address the critical challenges of agricultural financing, commercialisation, and climate resilience.
Anup Suri, Group Executive Commercial and Consumer Banking Ecobank Group stated: « To transform Africa’s economy, we must treat agriculture as a high-growth commercial sector rather than a subsistence activity. Through this strategic alliance with AGRA, Ecobank is unlocking the massive capital required to scale agribusinesses across the continent. We are de-risking the sector, backing women and youth entrepreneurs, and building a resilient food system that will power Africa’s next decade of growth. »
Alice Ruhweza, President-AGRA added: « Agriculture is not one sector among many for Africa; it is the foundation on which the continent’s entire development agenda rests. As African leaders advance the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) strategy for the decade ahead, this partnership with Ecobank translates that ambition into action. AGRA, working with its partners, has over the last twenty years established evidence, value chain knowledge, and on-the-ground insight into the opportunities for women and young people to build agribusinesses that thrive. Pairing that expertise with Ecobank’s reach and capabilities is how we make the case, credibly and concretely, that African food systems are one of the most compelling opportunities of our time. »
A comprehensive framework for agricultural transformation
The partnership is built on several strategic pillars designed to catalyse long-term impact across the agricultural sector.
Ecobank will develop and deploy tailored financial solutions, including working capital, asset finance, and trade finance. To overcome traditional barriers to agricultural lending, the partners will collaborate on structuring risk-sharing facilities, guarantees, and blended finance mechanisms. AGRA will provide catalytic funding support, beneficiary mobilisation, and technical assistance to enhance the financial literacy, governance, and investment readiness of agribusiness SMEs and cooperatives.
Placing a strong emphasis on empowering marginalised groups, the partnership links Ecobank’s Ellevate program with AGRA’s Value4HER (women in agribusiness) and YEFFA (youth entrepreneurship) initiatives to increase targeted financing and capacity-building for women- and youth-led enterprises.
As climate change increasingly impacts food systems, the collaboration will actively promote sustainable land use and mobilise green financing instruments to support climate-resilient agri-solutions.
About Ecobank Group
Ecobank Group is the leading private pan-African banking group with unrivalled African expertise. Present in 34 sub-Saharan African countries, as well as France, the UK, UAE and China, its unique pan-African platform provides a single gateway for payments, cash management, trade and investment. The Group employs over 14,000 people and offers Consumer, Commercial, Corporate and Investment Banking products, services and solutions across multiple channels, including digital, to over 32 million customers.
About AGRA
AGRA is an African-led institution that has been driving inclusive agriculture transformation across the continent since 2006. Working with governments, private sector actors and development partners, AGRA unlocks system-level change so that smallholder farmers can increase incomes, build resilient livelihoods and strengthen food security.
