Gabon - Graine Programme Support Project - Phase I (PAPG1)

The GRAINE Phase 1 Support Project (PAPG1) was designed to help make Gabon self-sufficient in foodstuffs and net exporter of palm oil through the agricultural development of 10,000 ha of crops and 10,500 ha of oil palm plantations in six provinces of the country. It aims to increase, in the very short term, the share of agriculture in the national wealth to ensure greater food security, and fight against youth unemployment. The GRAINE program is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) operation. In this context, a joint venture called the Agricultural Transformation and Rural Development Company (SOTRADER) was created by the Government (51%) and its partner OLAM (49%). The total cost of the project, including physical and financial contingencies, excluding taxes and customs duties, is estimated at 115.984 million Euros, or about 76.108 billion FCFA. The PAPG1 will be implemented over a five-year period through three components: (i) rural infrastructure development; (ii) capacity building; and (iii) Project Management.