An independent review of the statements and proceedings surrounding the Second Annual Results Review Workshop of the Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) 2024–2029 indicates a formal commitment to transform the livelihoods of approximately 450,000 rural households by 2029.

The COSOP, adopted in 2024, is structured to promote inclusive and resilient rural economic growth through market-driven agrifood system transformation, with a focus on food and nutrition security. Its stated strategic objective is to sustainably enhance rural productive capacity while strengthening organisational, institutional, and policy frameworks that support inclusive, nutrition-sensitive, and climate-resilient agricultural value chains.

Implementation Status and Performance Review

According to IFAD management, the 2025 Annual Results Review represents a mid-course assessment covering approximately two years of programme implementation. The review is intended to evaluate relevance, measure progress against set indicators, and introduce corrective actions to ensure achievement of 2029 targets.

Reported early implementation outcomes show positive performance trends, including:

Development and operationalisation of agro-processing and storage facilities;

Strengthening of rural producers’ organisations;

Improved access to finance for smallholder farmers and rural enterprises.

These outcomes, if independently verified, suggest progress toward COSOP deliverables for the 2024–2026 implementation period.

Governance, Coordination, and Policy Alignment

The IFAD Country Director highlighted that the agrifood sector’s complexity necessitates coordinated engagement among government institutions, development partners, the private sector, and farmer organisations. The diversity of workshop participants aligns with COSOP’s inclusive design principles and Nigeria’s policy priorities on digitalisation and youth participation in agriculture.

Key governance and systems-related milestones identified include:

Progress on the National Digital Farmer Registry;

Ongoing policy dialogue on youth inclusion in agrifood value chains.

However, continued achievement of COSOP objectives is contingent on adequate and timely funding, as well as effective inter-institutional coordination.

Public Sector Oversight and Financial Management

Representatives of the Federal Ministry of Finance confirmed that COSOP remains a central framework for rural transformation and food security enhancement. Emphasis was placed on the need for stronger integration of digital tools in financial reporting, monitoring, and project administration to improve transparency, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security further identified the review as an accountability milestone to assess collective progress, identify implementation gaps, and scale proven interventions that demonstrate measurable impact across states, in alignment with the National Food Systems Transformation Pathways.

Key Risks and Constraints Identified

The following material risks and implementation challenges were acknowledged:

Rising inflation and macroeconomic pressures;

Insecurity affecting rural production zones;

Climate-related shocks;

Inadequate extension service coverage;

Uneven programme implementation across states.

Mitigation measures proposed include stronger coordination mechanisms, enhanced monitoring and evaluation systems, broader deployment of digital tools, and improved sub-national accountability frameworks.

Stakeholder Validation

Civil society representation, through the National Committee for Family Farming in Nigeria, expressed support for the COSOP framework and commended the launch of the National Digital Farmers Registry, viewing it as a critical tool for targeting, transparency, and programme effectiveness.

Audit Conclusion (Preliminary)

Based on the information presented, COSOP implementation demonstrates early signs of progress toward its stated objectives. However, sustained impact and achievement of the 2029 target of reaching at least 450,000 rural households will depend on:

Continued funding adequacy;

Strengthened monitoring, reporting, and verification systems;

Effective risk management;

Consistent implementation across sub-national entities.

Further independent verification of reported results and financial performance is recommended to provide reasonable assurance on programme effectiveness and value for money.