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The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved $30.25 million in financing to support a climate protection and agricultural resilience program in Benin. The program aims to protect 150,000 smallholder farmers, especially in northern Benin, from the impacts of droughts and floods.

Agriculture employs about 70% of Benin’s population but remains highly vulnerable to climate change. In the northern regions of Alibori and Atakora, food insecurity affects one in four farmers. These areas also face additional pressure from regional instability, including displacement and border closures with neighboring Niger.

Climate projections show that crop production in Benin is at risk. Cotton yields may decline by 22%, and maize by 6.3%, which could result in losses estimated at 201 billion CFA francs.

According to Robert Masumbuko, the AfDB Country Representative in Benin, the investment will help farmers adapt to climate risks, improve social cohesion, and reduce the likelihood of conflict in fragile border areas.

The project will support Benin’s efforts to implement agricultural insurance, with the National Fund for Agricultural Development (FNDA) leading its pilot phase. It will introduce risk transfer tools, including sovereign insurance for extreme weather events through the African Risk Capacity and micro-insurance for individual farmers.

In addition to insurance, the program will enhance the country’s disaster response systems, deploy agrometeorological early warning equipment, and promote climate-smart farming methods. It also aims to ensure that at least 30% of the program’s direct beneficiaries are women and 30% are youth. Social cohesion initiatives will support the integration of displaced persons into host communities.

Funding sources include $20 million from the Transition Support Facility, $5 million from the African Development Fund, $3 million from the ADRiFi trust fund, and $2.44 million in counterpart funding from the Beninese government.

This initiative aligns with Benin’s National Development Plan (2018–2025) and National Adaptation Plan (2022–2027). It also complements broader development efforts supported by the World Food Programme, the World Bank, and bilateral donors such as Switzerland and Luxembourg.

The African Development Bank continues to support climate resilience and agricultural development across Africa by providing innovative solutions to protect vulnerable communities and promote sustainable growth.