According to the Bank’s website, the Programme for Integrated Development and Climate Change Adaptation (PIDACC/BN) is a regional initiative aimed at building the climate resilience of vulnerable communities in the Niger Basin countries. It was designed as nine (9) national projects executed by member countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, plus a regional component implemented by the Niger Basin Authority (NBA). The project was approved on 7 November 2018.

PIDACC-Côte d’Ivoire comprises three components :
(I) Component 1 : Restoration of forest capital and improvement of resilience in the central region,
(ii) Component 2 : Improvement of the climate resilience of ecosystems and communities of the northwest subbasin of the Niger Basin, and
(iii) Component 3 : Project management.

The Forest Cover Recovery and Resilience Improvement Project in the Central Region (PFAR) funded by the Forest Investment Programme’s (FIP) Strategic Climate Fund (SCF) has been incorporated in Component 1 of PIDACC-Côte d’Ivoire. Of six years duration, the project's closing date was initially scheduled for 31 December 2025 but was extended to 31 December 2027. The proposed additional SCF-FIP and ADF financing will strengthen the project’s expected outcomes since the financing will serve, among other things, to continue outreach campaigns or the intensification of forestry and agroforestry activities in the target area in the country’s central region. The activities proposed under this additional financing project will support Côte d'Ivoire's efforts to achieve balanced regional development and combat climate change as set out in the National Development Plan (PND : 2026–2030), especially its Pillar 5, "Balanced regional development, environmental conservation and the fight against climate change”, and the National Agricultural Investment Programme (PNIA II : 2018-2025).

The programme's global objective is to build the climate resilience of communities and ecosystems and enhance carbon sequestration capacity. It aims specifically to :
(i) preserve the Niger Basin ecosystems, especially by reducing the river silting processes;
(ii) improve the resilience of agro-sylvo-pastoral production systems;
(iii) enhance the integrated and shared management of natural resources; and
(iv) increase the forest cover in the former cocoa belt.

In Côte d’Ivoire, the project covers two areas : (i) the northwest and (ii) the central part of the country. The northwest area covers the national portion of the Niger Basin and stretches across nine departments (Boundiali, Kouto, Odienné, Tengrela, Samatiguila, Madinani, Gbeleban, Kaniasso and Minignan) and three administrative regions (Bagoué, Kabadougou, Folon). The second area, located in the central region, covers 5 administrative regions (Belier, Gbèkè, N’zi, Moronou, Iffou) and 12 departments (Bocanda, Kouassi-Kouassikro, Dimbokro, Bongouanou, Daoukro, Ouellé, M’Bahiakro, Bouaké, Sakassou, Béoumi, Tiksi, Yamoudi and Diédou). This area largely constitutes the former “cocoa belt”.

Environmental Category: [2] Moderate Risk

The programme is classified in Category 2 according to national regulations, based on environmental and social risk levels deemed moderate, in line with the Integrated Safeguards System. This categorization was approved in ISTS on 22/04/2025 and entered SAP on 20 May 2025.

The key moderate environmental risks and impacts associated with the envisaged investments are the risks of soil/water pollution and contamination due to the use of unlicenced inputs and/or poor management of empty input packaging and plastic pots after planting due to the creation of 500 ha of vegetable plots; the risks of soil erosion and silting of water points during works to lay out agroforestry plots; the risk of plant cover degradation within the rights- of-way of the firebreaks to be created; and the risk of intoxicating untargeted wildlife.

The key moderate social risks and impacts are health risks linked to the accidental ingestion and inhaling of phytosanitary products/pesticides sprayed by farmers/beneficiaries, or such products coming in contact with the skin, the eyes or open wounds due to inadequate protection; the risk of exclusion of women and young girls due to lack of active participation and lack of benefits for these groups, including vulnerable persons; and the risk of conflict between farmers and herders over the use of resources and land (stray animals and destruction of crops).

Financial Instrument: Project Cycle Grant / Project
Commitments (UA): 15,677,860
Conversion Rate USD (2026-03-12): 1,36276
Commitments (USD): 21,365,160.49

Name: Igerha Gracia KAHASHA
Email: i.kahasha@afdb.org

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

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ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF AfDB

The Independent Review Mechanism (IRM), which is administered by the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU), is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an African Development Bank (AfDB)-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the IRM, it may assist you by either seeking to address your problems by facilitating a dispute resolution dialogue between you and those implementing the project and/or investigating whether the AfDB complied with its policies to prevent environmental and social harms. You can submit a complaint electronically by emailing crmuinfo@afdb.org, b.kargougou@afdb.org, b.fall@afdb.org, and/or s.toure@afdb.org. You can learn more about the IRM and how to file a complaint at: https://www.afdb.org/en/independent-review-mechanism/