Nairobi — June 8, 2026 — The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) have signed a landmark $87 million Boosting Agrifood Systems Resilience in Sudan (BOOST) Project, aimed at revitalizing food systems and supporting farmers in regions central to the country’s food supply.
Launched on May 22 at the AfDB’s East Africa Regional Office, the four-year initiative comes at a critical time, with more than 19 million people in Sudan facing crisis levels of hunger. BOOST will help farming communities restore production, reduce post-harvest losses, improve incomes, and strengthen market linkages.
WFP Sudan Country Director Abdallah Alwardat highlighted the resilience of farmers already engaged in WFP-supported activities: “Farmers supported by WFP have been able to preserve their agricultural schemes and even improve yields of wheat and sorghum, even during the war.”
The project will focus on Sennar State and Blue Nile State, working with more than 230,000 farming households expected to produce nearly one million metric tons of cereals and pulses over its duration. This output could meet the annual consumption needs of cereals for nine million people and pulses for 15 million people.
AfDB Sudan Country Manager David Muthusi Mutuku emphasized the long-term impact: “Investing in Sudan’s farmers is investing in the country’s recovery and resilience. BOOST will strengthen rural economies and help communities withstand future shocks.”
Delivered by WFP under AfDB’s third-party implementing arrangements, BOOST will also organize farmer groups for training and agribusiness development. It builds on the success of the Sudan Emergency Wheat Production Project, shifting from short-term humanitarian aid to sustainable local food production.
Since 2023, AfDB and WFP have partnered on resilience activities worth nearly $267 million, underscoring their commitment to supporting Sudan’s agricultural recovery and food security.
