RISE Project harnesses partnerships to strengthen agriculture value chains, create 8,000 jobs in Northern Nigeria

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) has launched the Resilient and Inclusive Agri-Food Systems Empowering Women and Youth in Nigeria (RISE) project, a five-year initiative supported by Global Affairs Canada.

RISE will strengthen agri-food systems in Bauchi, Kaduna, and Kano States, create 8,000 decent jobs and support 12,500 smallholder farmers through access to finance, climate-smart practices, and market linkages.

RISE brings together government, private sector, financial institutions, women’s associations, and local cooperatives to address barriers across the rice, maize, groundnut, and soybean value chains. This collaborative model combines market systems expertise with agribusiness knowledge to create conditions where smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and micro, small, and medium enterprises can access the finance, technology, and markets needed to increase production, add value through processing, and grow sustainable businesses.

The launch was attended by distinguished Nigerian government officials and international partners, including: Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security; Senator (Dr.) Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, CON,  launched the project.

Others dignatries include His Excellency Pasquale Salvaggio, Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, representing Global Affairs Canada; Dr Iliyasu Aliyu Gital, Honorable Commissioner for Agriculture, Bauchi State; and Mrs. Lydia Tsanman, Honorable Commissioner for Women Affairs, Bauchi State.

Also at the event were Hajiya Amina Abdullahi, Honorable Commissioner for Women Affairs, Kano State;         Honorable Muritala M. Dabo, Commissioner for Agriculture, Kaduna State; Hajia Rabi Salisu, Honorable Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Kaduna State;                Dr. Danjuma Mahmud, Honorable Commissioner for Agriculture, Kano State; Honorable Amina Katagum, Commissioner for Budget and National Planning, Bauchi State.

The ceremony also featured panel discussions moderated by MEDA and Sahel Consulting experts, with Dr. Aishatu Bakari Usman representing women farmers.

In addition to creating 8,000 decent jobs while directly supporting 12,500 smallholder farmers, RISE will also strengthen 450 women- and youth-led enterprises and empower 250 farmer cooperatives. Through these interventions, the project will ultimately reach 50,000 people across Northern Nigeria. “With RISE, we are moving further and deeper. The project will strengthen agri-food systems in Bauchi, Kaduna, and Kano State, improve resilience to climate and economic shocks, and expand opportunities for smallholder farmers, cooperatives and agribusinesses. Women and youth will remain at the centre of this effort—not as beneficiaries, but as leaders and drivers of ecosystem transformation,” explained Diaka Diallo Sall, MEDA Regional Director, West and Central Africa.

The project is supported by Global Affairs Canada. Speaking about Canada’s commitment to the project, His Excellency Pasquale Salvaggio emphasized that “Canada has been a long-standing and committed partner in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. We believe agriculture is not only a powerful engine

for economic growth, but also a critical pathway to advancing gender equality and reducing poverty. By empowering women and youth across Nigeria’s agri-food systems, we are helping to create decent jobs, strengthen local economies, and build more resilient and sustainable food systems. Through initiatives like the RISE project, Canada is investing in shared prosperity between Canada and Nigeria.”

The project targets four critical value chains—rice, maize, groundnut, and soybean—through a comprehensive three-pillar approach:

Increase yields and incomes for smallholder farmers through climate-smart agricultural practices and bundled services tailored to women and youth in cooperatives.

READ ALSO: Why Nigeria still imports 70% of its milk — CODARAN director

Enhance the competitiveness of women- and youth-led agribusinesses by facilitating access to finance, technology, and market linkages; and

Address harmful social norms and promote women and youth leadership in farmer cooperatives and agribusinesses by partnering with government bodies and women’s rights organisations.

By strengthening these value chains and creating opportunities for women and youth, RISE will improve livelihoods, strengthen local food systems, and contribute to the economic future of Northern Nigeria.

RISE is co-designed and implemented by MEDA in partnership with Sahel Consulting, Development Exchange Centre, Emeraid Capital, Extension Africa, Women in Business Forum, and the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN).

 MEDA and its partners will begin implementing RISE activities in 2026, with an initial focus on establishing farmer field schools, strengthening cooperative governance structures, facilitating access to climate-smart technologies, and creating market linkages for women- and youth-led enterprises. The project team will work closely with state governments and local communities to ensure inclusive participation and sustainable impact.