Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and Sahel

The Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel, established in 2024 at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, represents a collaborative commitment to revitalise soil health and promote sustainable fertiliser practices across the region. Supported by a strong consortium that includes IITA (lead), World Bank (through AICCRA - Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa), OCP Africa, International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), and International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC), the Hub aims to address soil infertility, inefficient fertiliser use, and low crop yields that undermine food security and climate resilience in West Africa.

The Hub is designed for rapid and flexible deployment, operating on an efficiency model similar to a “workshop,” with a fully equipped, expert-driven unit ready to support countries on demand. This model emerged as a priority action from a 2024 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and World Bank roundtable in Lomé, following the continental Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi.

By 2033, the Hub aims to increase yields and incomes for 3 million farmers and improve soil health on 1.5 million hectares. This is a transformative ambition in a region where average yields for staple crops, such as maize, are only at 1.2–2.2 tons per hectare. Through coordinated actions, innovative tools, and strong partnerships, the Hub aspires to reverse nutrient depletion and economic losses. Additionally, to set West Africa on a path toward resilient, data-driven, and sustainable agricultural growth.

The Hub’s mandate focuses on providing technical support for national fertiliser and soil health plans; generating and disseminating harmonised soil health and fertility maps; and enabling site-specific fertiliser recommendations through data-driven modelling aligned with Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) principles.

Additional priorities include strengthening the capacity of various stakeholder groups, from policymakers to farmers, facilitating regional knowledge exchange, and establishing a robust Soil Information System (SIS) capable of standardising, harmonising, and securing soil data for long-term use.

• IITA (lead)

• World Bank (through AICCRA)

• OCP Africa

• IFDC

• APNI

• UM6P

• ISRIC

World Bank (through AICCRA) and OCP Africa.

• Website Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel

• ECOWAS Launches Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and Sahel

• Press Release | A Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health opens in Ibadan, Nigeria