Benin launches 7.15 billion FCFA climate resilience project
The project aims to protect farmers in nine vulnerable communes from drought, floods, and erratic rainfall.
In Sèmè-Podji on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, Benin's Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, Adin Yéton Bloukounon Goubalan, launched the Integrated Project to Strengthen Climate Resilience of Vulnerable and Border Communes (Pirrcf). The project, with a budget of 7.15 billion FCFA, is supported by the UNDP, Belgium, and Switzerland and will operate in nine communes.
The initiative seeks to equip rural communities to better withstand droughts, floods, and irregular rainfall through climate-adapted agriculture, hydraulic infrastructure construction, renewable energy promotion, digitalization, and the use of local building materials. Minister Goubalan highlighted the severe impact of climate events on maize and peanut fields, stressing the need for sustainable solutions to protect producers and their incomes.
Gabrielle Spirli, head of Swiss cooperation, advocated for compressed earth bricks and local materials to reduce carbon footprints and create economic opportunities for youth and women. Belgian Ambassador Sandrine Plateau noted the success of a previous program funded with 4 million euros from March 2023 to October 2026 in four communes, emphasizing rigorous, inclusive, and transparent implementation. Dr. El Hadji Fall, the UNDP resident representative in Benin, stated that beneficiary communities must be central to the project, integrating local knowledge, technological innovation, and territorial resources.
Why it mattersThe Pirrcf project will implement climate-adapted agriculture and build hydraulic infrastructure in nine communes to protect farmers' incomes from extreme weather.