ActionAid’s Scaling Up of Public Investments in Agriculture (SUPIA II) project supported improved access to essential agricultural services for 2,913 smallholder women farmers between July 2022 and December 2025, marking a significant step toward inclusive agricultural development in Nigeria. The project, implemented by ActionAid Nigeria in collaboration with ActionAid International, focused on strengthening political commitment and public financing for agriculture, with the aim of improving productivity, livelihoods, and overall well-being of women farmers.
The initiative operated at both national and subnational levels, covering eight focal states—Bauchi, Gombe, Ondo, Kwara, Kogi, Ebonyi, Delta, and the Federal Capital Territory—while also engaging regional and continental platforms to influence broader agricultural policy processes. This multi-level approach helped generate strong evidence, deepen policy dialogue, and build strategic partnerships among government institutions, civil society organisations, and farmer networks.
Through sustained advocacy for inclusive and gender-responsive public investment, the project contributed to increased agricultural budgets at national and state levels and the introduction of new budget lines aimed at strengthening food and nutrition security. These policy and financing improvements translated into better access to agricultural services for women farmers, leading to enhanced productivity and improved livelihoods in participating communities.
Beyond service delivery, the SUPIA II project strengthened the capacity of women farmers to understand agricultural policies, engage in budget formulation and implementation, and hold governments accountable for their commitments. By amplifying women’s voices and promoting agriculture as a viable business and livelihood, the initiative helped shift perceptions of farming from subsistence to a pathway for economic empowerment.
As the project concluded, stakeholders emphasized the importance of sustaining and scaling its gains through increased public investment, improved budget releases, and continued engagement with women, young people, and other key actors. The project’s outcomes and lessons offer valuable insights for advancing equitable, sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria and across Africa, with a strong focus on ensuring that public investments deliver tangible benefits for marginalized groups.
