Canada’s ₦20.2 billion RISE Project: Empowering Women and Youth in Kano’s Agriculture

Canada’s RISE Project: Empowering Women and Youth in Kano’s Agriculture

Kano State is set to benefit from Canada’s Resilient and Inclusive Agri-food Systems Empowering Women and Youth (RISE) project, aiming to bolster agriculture and empower women and youth in Northern Nigeria.

The RISE initiative will directly support approximately 450 women- and youth-owned or led agribusinesses and 250 smallholder farmer cooperatives in Kano, Bauchi, and Kaduna states. This effort seeks to foster inclusive economic growth and resilience, resulting in the creation of 8,000 jobs.

With a budget exceeding ₦20.2 billion (CA$19.2 million), this five-year project aims to enhance food security, boost productivity, and equip women- and youth-led enterprises with the necessary skills and resources to thrive in agriculture.

Implemented by the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) of Canada, in collaboration with Nigerian partners, the RISE project focuses on improving productivity and climate resilience in key agricultural value chains.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State emphasized the critical role of climate-smart technology in transforming agriculture. He noted that Nigeria’s agricultural sector holds immense potential but faces significant challenges, including the severe effects of climate change, such as flooding and desertification.

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The governor expressed optimism that empowering women and youth with climate-smart technology through the RISE project will advance Kano’s development and economic goals.

The RISE project aligns with Canada’s Africa Strategy: A Partnership for Shared Prosperity and Security, which focuses on economic cooperation, sustainable development, and global peace. Under this strategy, Canada has committed over CA$ 869.5 million to development and humanitarian projects across Africa, with Nigeria receiving CA$345 million in the last five years.

This initiative is expected to significantly impact Kano’s agricultural sector by increasing smallholder farmers’ productivity, strengthening agribusinesses, and addressing key challenges such as climate change and market access.