Nairobi/Port Sudan — June 8, 2026 — The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have signed the USD 87 million Boosting Agrifood Systems Resilience in Sudan (BOOST) Project, a four-year initiative designed to strengthen food systems and provide critical support to farmers in regions central to Sudan’s food supply.
Launched on May 22 at AfDB’s East Africa Regional Office in Nairobi, BOOST comes at a time when more than 19 million people in Sudan are facing crisis levels of hunger. The project will help farming communities restore production, reduce post-harvest losses, improve incomes, and strengthen market linkages.
WFP Sudan Country Director Abdallah Alwardat noted that farmers engaged in resilience activities have been able to preserve and even improve yields despite conflict: “Farmers supported by WFP have been able to preserve their agricultural schemes and improve their yields of wheat and sorghum.”
BOOST will operate in Sennar State and Blue Nile State, supporting more than 230,000 farming households expected to produce nearly 1 million metric tons of cereals and pulses over the project’s duration. This output could meet the annual consumption needs of cereals for 9 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. Through this partnership, AfDB is supporting practical solutions that 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, marking a shift from short-term humanitarian aid to sustainable local food production.
Since 2023, AfDB and WFP have partnered on resilience activities worth USD 267 million, underscoring their commitment to supporting Sudan’s agricultural recovery and food security.
