Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, July 02.2026

Côte d’Ivoire has secured USD 50 million with $40M from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), for the Enhancing Sustainable Land Management and Climate-Resilient Agri-food Systems in Côte d’Ivoire (LARACI) project. This landmark investment represents a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to strengthen climate resilience, enhance food security, and promote sustainable agricultural transformation.

The project will deploy climate-resilient agricultural practices across five regions—N’Zi, Moronou, Iffou, La Mé, and Gbêkê—targeting approximately 147,000 smallholder farmers who cultivate rice, cassava, and yam. Over a five-year period, the initiative aims to improve the climate resilience of 110,600 hectares of agricultural land and reduce more than 600,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions through the adoption of climate-smart and low-emission farming techniques.

The project is led by the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, in partnership with three CGIAR centers—AfricaRice, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, and IITA—alongside the Fonds Interprofessionnel pour la Recherche et le Conseil Agricoles (FIRCA), a newly GCF-accredited entity itself which will serve as a key execution partner.

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) played an instrumental role during the project’s origination and preparatory phase, facilitating the design process and convening stakeholders from the conceptual stage through to fund mobilization, with support from the Gates Foundation.

Overall, the project underscores the Government’s commitment to translating national climate and agricultural priorities into bankable investments that deliver tangible climate, social, and economic benefits for farmers and rural communities.

Katerina Syngellakis, Africa Regional Director at GGGI, said:

“LARACI combines climate information services, climate-smart extension, agroforestry, sustainable land management, and proven agricultural innovations to help farmers adapt to increasingly unpredictable weather while improving productivity and protecting natural resources. The project will also strengthen institutional capacity and promote sustainable value chains that contribute to long-term agricultural resilience.”

Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director, CGIAR said:

“This project marks a turning point for how agricultural research connects to climate finance. For the first time, CGIAR is serving as Accredited Entity for a Green Climate Fund project, working alongside the Government of Côte d’Ivoire and FIRCA to deliver climate solutions to farmers who need them most. We are grateful for the invaluable support of GGGI and the Gates Foundation in making this possible. The model we have developed here can be scaled across Africa.”

The approval of LARACI reinforces Côte d’Ivoire’s leadership in mobilizing international climate finance to support sustainable agricultural transformation and demonstrates the value of strong partnerships in delivering climate solutions that improve livelihoods while contributing to global climate goals.

About GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, intergovernmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. GGGI works with governments and partners to develop innovative, finance-ready solutions that advance green growth, climate resilience, and sustainable development.

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GGGI Media Contact:  Isabelle Ky, communication associate | E-mail:  Isabelle.ky@gggi.org