GCA Joins African Development Bank and Nigeria to Launch Transformational Agro-Industrial Program
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otterdam, Netherlands, 30 June 2025 — The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) has joined forces with the Government of Nigeria and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to launch the second phase of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program, a landmark initiative set to reshape the future of Nigeria’s agriculture sector. With a total investment of USD 975 million—including USD 600 million in AfDB financing—SAPZ Phase II is designed to boost climate-resilient infrastructure, drive inclusive industrialization, and unlock large-scale private sector investment across the agricultural value chain.
Under this phase, the Global Center on Adaptation will play a central role in embedding climate resilience into the program’s core. GCA’s contributions will support the development of climate-smart agricultural systems, particularly under Component 2 of the investment project. In partnership with Nigerian state governments, GCA will lead the implementation of digital soil health and fertility mapping in Oyo, Niger, and Anambra states, using remote sensing and GIS tools to improve land use and productivity. In parallel, GCA will work with seed companies and farmers to design and deploy a digital platform that ensures the quality, traceability, and distribution of climate-resilient seeds. To further accelerate the adoption of improved practices, GCA will deliver tailored training to extension officers, agricultural stakeholders, and farmers focused on the production and application of high-quality, drought- and flood-tolerant seed varieties.
These interventions are an integral part of a broader effort to transform Nigeria’s agriculture landscape. Phase II of the SAPZ Program will be implemented in three tranches, beginning with an initial roll-out in eight states: Niger, Anambra, Delta, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Gombe, Enugu, and Ekiti. The program will ultimately span 27 states and is expected to generate 1.35 million new jobs—of which 60 percent will go to youth and at least half to women—while mobilizing USD 2 billion in private investment in agro-industrial zones and processing centers.
“This is adaptation in action,” said Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen, President and CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation. “Through the SAPZ program, Nigeria is not only investing in infrastructure and food systems, it is building resilience—acre by acre, community by community. We are proud to bring our climate expertise to this transformative partnership with the African Development Bank and the Government of Nigeria, to ensure these investments thrive in the face of climate shocks and serve generations to come.”
The SAPZ initiative is aligned with Nigeria’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (2021–2025), the Nigeria Agenda 2050, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. It directly supports the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to poverty eradication, food security, decent work, and resilient infrastructure. By integrating climate-smart practices into one of the continent’s most ambitious agriculture programs, the Global Center on Adaptation is helping ensure that growth is not only inclusive and transformative, but also sustainable.
GCA’s involvement in SAPZ Phase II is anchored in the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program, a joint initiative with the African Development Bank that is delivering scaled adaptation solutions across the continent. Through this work, GCA continues to act as a transmission belt—converting global finance into local action and connecting innovative solutions to the communities that need them most.
