Tailored Training and Support for Agri-PDBs

The Agri-PDB Platform is a PDB-oriented, needs-driven platform. Training forms part of a broader support package offered to PDBs and is one of the most effective ways to deepen impact, strengthen ongoing efforts, and deliver targeted technical expertise to partner banks.

The Platform has conducted surveys to identify the needs of PDBs and, based on the results, developed tailored training programmes aligned with the strengths and priorities of its members, with agroecology emerging as a key priority area. These trainings cover both structural and thematic dimensions, including governance, policy dialogue, resource mobilization, financial instruments, risk management, environmental and social management systems (ESMS), digital transformation, and performance management, as well as thematic areas such as climate change, soil health, biodiversity, green finance, and impact measurement.

Training sessions are designed to respond to the specific needs of each PDB and are delivered through a combination of virtual and in-person formats. Participants also have access to online tools and practical resources to support the application of acquired knowledge and skills. It also opens participation opportunities to some of our partners, and facilitates dialogue and technical exchange between bank specialists and experts from other organisations.

Overall, these trainings provide both structural and thematic support across different typologies of institutions, helping members better understand global market challenges and opportunities while strengthening the skills and capacities needed to respond effectively. Members also benefit from access to specialised resources and technical expertise to enhance institutional performance.

In-Person Training

The Agri-PDB Platform organized its first in-person training on agroecology and climate finance in Morocco from 18 to 24 April 2026. An online version of the training will be launched shortly in the form of a MOOC.

The event was financed by the European Union, and co-organized by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the French Development Agency, the Biovision Foundation, and the Network of Agroecological Initiatives in Morocco (RIAM), and Crédit Agricole du Maroc (CAM).

The training brought together around 40 representatives from different financial institutions in Benin, Burundi, Morocco, Mali, Senegal, as well as representatives from Togo’s Agricultural Financing Incentive Mechanism (MIFA), alongside Moroccan stakeholders and international technical partners. The initiative aimed to strengthen the role of financial institutions in financing sustainable, climate-resilient food systems.

Online Training

An online version of the training will be launched shortly in the form of a MOOC.

Training Trajectory

Technical Support Tools for Implementation

We collaborate with different technical partners to deliver technical sessions on agroecology, climate change, and green finance. These workshops are tailored to national contexts and implemented through a combination of virtual and in-person formats, supported by expert-developed toolkits and follow-up materials.

Key Technical Tools

To operationalise this support, we draw on a set of specialised tools developed by FAO, Biovision, and the Agroecology Coalition. These instruments are used to assess agroecological performance, guide investment decisions, and strengthen the integration of climate and environmental considerations into agricultural financing.

FAO Tools

  • ABC-Map Tool (Adaptation Biodiversity and Carbon Mapping Tool): Developed by FAO to support risk assessment and identify investment opportunities in the agricultural sector. 
  • Tool for Agroecological Performance Evaluation (TAPE): Enables PDBs to assess agroecological performance in financed projects. 

Biovision Tool 

  • Biovision-adapted Farm-Level Agroecology Criteria Tool (B-ACT): Supports PDBs in screening and evaluating projects based on their alignment with agroecological principles and potential environmental and social impacts. This tool is provided by Biovision. 

Agroecology Coalition 

  • Agroecology Coalition Tool: Evaluates projects, initiatives, or calls for proposals by rating their contribution to agroecological transformation based on the 13 principles of agroecology. 

Training Schedule

20 April - Training (Rabat)

  • Module 1: Role of Public Agricultural Development Banks in Financing the Agroecological Transition​
  • Module 2: Introduction to the Principles of Agroecology in the Face of Climate Challenges ​
  • Module 3: Assessing the Agroecological Transition to Support Decision-Making and Sustainable Financing

21April - Field Visits (Rabat)​

  • Visit to the SME “Direct Ferme”
  • Visit to the farm “Mama Ghaia”

22&23 April - Field Visits (Fés - Meknés)

  • Visit to the farm “La Pause du Berger”
  • Visit to a semi-direct cooperative “Tifrit”
  • Visit to the International Agriculture Fair in Morocco

The four-day training strengthened participants’ capacity to translate agroecological principles into concrete financing and investment decisions through a combination of peer exchange, practical tools, field visits, and institutional learning. It also fostered the creation of a growing community of Public Development Banks (PDBs) and financial institutions, enabling participants to build lasting professional connections and continue exchanging experiences beyond the training. Field visits and interactions with cooperatives and local actors provided practical insights into sustainable agricultural practices, collective risk mitigation, value-added production systems, and scalable financing approaches that could be adapted within participants’ own institutional and country contexts.

Another major benefit is the creation of a coherent group of PDB project managers who can exchange with one another. Participants have established new peer connections within the network and can continue engaging on related issues as a follow-up to the training. Through this initiative, we aim to build a community of PDBs where staff can regularly exchange knowledge, experiences, and practices.

Read the news

Where Theory Meets Practice: Agroecology on the Ground in Rabat
Advancing Agroecology: A First Day of Learning and Collaboration in Rabat

Training Highlights

Training Concept Note

Looking Ahead

The training confirmed strong demand among participating institutions for practical tools, peer learning, and technical support to operationalize agroecological finance. The Morocco training reinforced the strategic role of public development banks in financing the agroecological transition and accelerating investment in resilient, sustainable food systems across Africa.

As follow-up actions, the Agri-PDB Platform and its partners will:

  • Organize another training for English speaking PDBs
  • Develop an online version of the training in French, English and Spanish
  • Organize more targeted peer-to-peer technical exchanges
  • Develop tailored capacity-strengthening programmes adapted to participating banks’ operational needs and maturity levels
  • Deepen regional cooperation and cross-country learning

Importantly, the dialogue does not stop with the training itself. It will continue with each PDB to better understand how the lessons learned are being implemented in practice and how they can contribute to the evolution of procedures and approaches for identifying agroecology projects. Monitoring, evaluation, and continuous improvement are also integral to this approach.