Liberia is turning to Tanzania for guidance on how to build a dedicated agricultural development bank, with a delegation from the Central Bank of Liberia visiting Dar es Salaam to study Tanzania’s successful approach to agricultural financing. The visit centres on understanding how the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) has become one of Africa’s strongest development finance institutions in under a decade.
TADB’s director of Planning, Advisory and Corporate Affairs, Waziri Mkani, said in a statement that Liberia has no agricultural development bank and is seeking a practical model to support its own farming sector. “The delegation believes that TADB offers a practical and proven model from which they can draw lessons as they look to establish a similar financial institution to support agricultural growth in their home country,” said Mkani.
According to Mkani, the Liberian team is examining how TADB fulfils its core mandate of providing large-scale agricultural loans to thousands of farmers while maintaining strong financial stability. “Today, TADB is not only positioning itself as a leader in agricultural development within Tanzania but also as a reference point for the African continent and beyond,” noted Mkani.
He added that TADB’s growing international engagement reflects its expanding role in supporting sustainable agriculture, strengthening development finance systems and sharing expertise across the region. With its rising influence, the bank has become a pillar of agricultural transformation not only at home but also for countries seeking to replicate Tanzania’s progress.
In recent years, TADB has hosted delegations from the Zambia Credit Guarantee Scheme Limited, the National Savings and Credit Bank of Zambia, Colombia’s state-owned agricultural financing institution FINAGRO and Zambia’s Ministry of Agriculture, reaffirming its status as a regional and international learning hub. Its performance has also drawn recognition.
In June 2024, TADB was ranked the second-best development finance institution among SADC member states following an assessment by the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI). Under the Prudential Standards, Guidelines and Rating System developed with the African Development Bank, TADB scored 91 percent for governance, financial prudence and operational efficiency.
