Ousmane Diagana, Vice President of the World Bank for West and Central Africa, and Mostafa Terrab, President of the OCP signed a partnership agreement on 11 October 2023 in Marrakech aimed at opening up prospects for African farmers to improve agricultural productivity and soil health in Benin, Guinea, and Mali and Togo.

As part of the annual meetings of the World Bank and the IMF in Marrakech, the President of the OCP Group, Mostafa Terrab, and the Vice President of the World Bank for West and Central Africa, Ousmane Diagana, signed a memorandum of understanding to promote cooperation and programs for 5 million farmers in Benin, Guinea, in Mali and Togo — covering an area of 10 million hectares. This cooperation aims to accelerate investments and reforms to make fertilizers more accessible and affordable for farmers.

“These projects are an important step in unlocking Africa's potential for global food security,” said OCP Group President and CEO Mostafa Terrab. “The aim is to bring about a just and sustainable agricultural transition, by expanding farmers' access in West Africa to fertilizers specially designed to feed their soil and improve crop yields, which will increase farmers' sources of income, thereby contributing to the development and prosperity of the region.

This partnership agreement will provide opportunities for African farmers to improve their productivity and soil health, using specially designed fertilizers and sustainable agricultural practices.

About OCP Group

The OCP Group helps feed a growing global population by providing them with the essential elements for soil fertility and plant growth. With more than a century of expertise and a turnover of 11.3 billion dollars in 2022, the OCP Group is the global leader in plant nutrition solutions and phosphate-based fertilizers. Based in Morocco and present on five continents, the OCP Group has around 20,000 employees and collaborates closely with more than 350 customers around the world

The OCP Group recently launched a new green investment strategy, dedicated to increasing fertilizer production and investing in renewable energy. This strategy foresees a global investment of around 13 billion dollars over the period.

2023-2027, which will allow the Group to use 100% renewable energy by 2027 and achieve total carbon neutrality by 2040. The strategy also aims to achieve a water desalination capacity of 560 million cubic meters in 2026 and to increase the production of green manures. The Group is firmly convinced that leadership and profitability go hand in hand with social responsibility and sustainable development. Its strategic vision is located at the junction of these two dimensions.

About the World Bank

The World Bank provides financing, global knowledge, and a long-term commitment to help low- and middle-income countries end poverty, achieve sustainable growth, and invest for opportunities for all. The World Bank includes, among others, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the largest development bank in the world, and the International Development Association (IDA), one of the main sources of financing for the poorest countries. Together with other World Bank institutions and public and private sector partners, we are helping to develop solutions to 21st century global challenges across all major development sectors. A world where no one lives in poverty and where everyone has the opportunity to have a better life is within our reach.

In West and Central Africa, the priorities of the World Bank focus on strengthening the social contract, stimulating job creation and economic transformation, improving human capital, empowering women, and building climate resilience.

Félicienne HOUESSOU