Angola and the World Bank Group have launched the AgriConnect Compact, a national framework designed to increase domestic food production, create jobs and mobilize investment in agricultural value chains.
The initiative brings together the government, private sector, financial institutions, development partners and farmer organizations around a shared agenda to transform Angola’s agriculture sector. By 2030, AgriConnect Angola aims to create up to 700,000 jobs, generate up to US$2.2 billion in annual added value and mobilize up to US$1.45 billion in public and private finance.
Angola has strong agricultural potential, with more than 58 million hectares of arable land and favorable agro-climatic conditions. Agriculture also provides livelihoods for more than half of the country’s workforce. However, productivity remains low, and Angola spends around US$3 billion annually on food imports.
The AgriConnect Compact seeks to address these challenges by supporting coordinated investments and reforms across the agricultural value chain. It will focus on improving production, processing, logistics and agricultural services to create jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities, especially for women and youth.
The initiative will also help increase domestic food production by improving productivity, reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening links between farmers and markets. This is expected to support Angola’s growing agro-processing sector and reduce dependence on imported food.
A key priority of the Compact is to create better conditions for sustainable private sector growth. It aims to strengthen partnerships among farmers, agribusinesses, financial institutions and technology providers, while expanding access to inputs, finance and markets on commercially viable terms.
The framework will also support reforms in land administration, water management, food safety and the wider investment climate for agribusiness. These reforms are expected to help attract investors and strengthen long-term agricultural competitiveness.
The Compact also focuses on resilience by promoting climate-smart development practices, improved water management and stronger value chains. These measures will help farmers better manage the impacts of droughts, floods and other climate-related shocks.
The World Bank Group is also preparing a follow-on financing operation focused on competitive agricultural value chains and agribusiness development. This will include attention to opportunities along the Malanje and Lobito development corridors.
The initiative is aligned with Angola’s National Development Plan 2023–2027, which identifies agriculture and agribusiness as key drivers of economic diversification and rural development.
Overall, the AgriConnect Compact represents an important step toward transforming Angola’s agriculture sector. By connecting farmers to markets, technology and finance, the initiative aims to strengthen food security, create employment and support inclusive agricultural growth.
