The context of Benin

Key issues

Benin, a coastal country in West Africa, is distinguished by its rich ecosystems, exceptional cultural heritage and diverse ethnic groups. Despite its natural and cultural resources, the country faces major challenges in terms of poverty, access to healthcare, deforestation and gender inequality.

Socio-economic context

• 20% of the population lives on less than €2 per day.
• 70% of the working population is employed in agriculture, often with limited resources.
• Only 35% of women are literate, which contributes to their under-representation in decision-making positions.

Public health issues

• 1.1 million children (3 in 10) suffer from chronic malnutrition.
• 30% of children under the age of 5 are stunted.
• The maternal mortality rate is one of the highest in the world: 397 deaths per 100,000 live births (2018).
• Only 8% of the population has health insurance.

Natural resources and the environment

• Benin's forests are essential for the population and biodiversity.
• Between 2005 and 2015, 20% of forest area disappeared (falling from 7.6 to 6 million hectares).
• Deforestation remains extremely high, at 2.2% per year.
• The rate of deforestation remains extremely high, at 2.2% per year.
• Benin's subsoil contains significant mineral resources that are still largely unexploited.

Cultural heritage

• Benin is renowned for its unique cultural heritage, including the Slave Route, and for being the birthplace of voodoo.
• The country is a veritable ethnic melting pot, with more than forty ethnic groups coexisting without major tensions.

Health and economic inclusion for an impactful mutualist movement

Our Objective

To facilitate access to healthcare for all by supporting the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in our areas of intervention in Benin (Mono and Atacora).

We focus our efforts on populations that are often excluded from traditional health insurance systems, particularly workers in the informal and agricultural sectors. To this end, we support the development of community health mutuals, which enable the sharing of health-related risks and improve the ability of people with low and irregular incomes to contribute to their healthcare.

Our actions

• Developing and strengthening community health mutuals and their unions (e.g. UMUSOP) to ensure pre-payment for care.
• Establishing innovative mechanisms (group membership via Social and Solidarity Economy Initiatives) to facilitate access to health insurance.
• Improving the quality of healthcare provision to strengthen trust and membership in mutual societies.
• Strengthening participatory governance, with a particular focus on women's participation and disease prevention.
• Providing medical equipment to partner health centres.
• Organisation of integrated community screening and awareness campaigns targeting both non-communicable diseases (hypertension, diabetes, breast and cervical cancer, etc.) and other preventable diseases (contagious, hygiene- and nutrition-related, etc.).
• Support advocacy for the mutualist movement to be involved in the operationalisation of Universal Health Coverage, particularly for populations in the agricultural and informal sectors, which account for more than 90% of the working population in certain regions such as Atacora.

Our impact

This project enables vulnerable households, who are often forced to finance their own healthcare, to access quality care throughout the year, prevent catastrophic healthcare expenditure, and strengthen their socio-economic resilience.

Inclusion of young people, particularly girls, through strengthening the participatory approach

Our objective

To strengthen the social, educational and community environment of children and young people – especially girls – in Comé, enabling them to become fully-fledged participants in a more just, inclusive society that respects human rights. The project aims to improve children's access to their rights, encourage girls' enrolment in school and promote gender equality. It also supports local actors (civil society and authorities) in order to create a sustainable collective dynamic, strengthening social cohesion and child protection.

Our actions

• Development of multi-stakeholder alliances to amplify the local impact of awareness-raising, training and advocacy actions to promote children's rights, gender equality, the socio-professional integration of young people and the economic empowerment of women.
• Consolidation of mentoring networks, women's associations and youth groups to disseminate best practices at the community level.
• Creation, within the transit home, of a professional unit (lawyer, social worker, psychologist) to support young migrants and children in difficult situations placed there by the court, and improvement of reception facilities.
• Organisation of awareness-raising activities on hygiene, health, the environment (e.g. cleanliness days, plastic waste management) and the inclusion of children with disabilities through synergies with specialised CSOs.
• Support for the Siloe centre for visually impaired children towards greater financial autonomy and better consideration of the specific needs of young girls.

Our impact

This project promotes better access for children – especially girls – to their rights. It creates a collective dynamic that fosters greater social cohesion by sustainably strengthening the capacity for action of local actors.

Partners and donors

Partners

• Guichet d’Economie Locale du Sud Bénin : GEL Sud Bénin
• Groupements pour la Promotion et l’Exploitation des Ressources de l’Environnement : GROPERE
• Conseil des Structures d’Appui aux Mutuelles Sociales : CONSAMUS
• Réseau « MIVO » des Mutuelles de Santé de la zone sanitaire de Comé : REMUSA « MIVO »
• Union des Mutuelles Sociales de la Pendjari : UMUSOP
• Action Plus
• Eco Bénin
• CJA

Donors

• If Foundation
• Enabel
• DGD
• WBI
• UNITAS

Sustainable agriculture and inclusive entrepreneurship

Our objective

These projects aim to strengthen the economic resilience of households and promote sustainable, equitable and inclusive food and agricultural systems. They support local producers, cooperatives and entrepreneurs through a two-pronged approach: agroecological transition and the development of sustainable, income-generating economic activities.

Our actions

Sustainable agriculture and food systems

• Promote agroecology for agriculture that respects natural resources and is socially equitable.
• Train farmers in sustainable agricultural techniques, farm management and production development.
• Support access to agricultural equipment (processing, storage) and improve access to rural finance and markets.
• Assess and monitor the economic, social and environmental performance of farms.

Local entrepreneurship and cooperative structuring

• Strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit and technical and management skills of economic project leaders.
• Offer tailored non-financial advisory and entrepreneurial support services.
• Structure and support the governance of cooperatives, particularly in the processing and marketing of agricultural products.
• Facilitate public-private exchanges and entrepreneurs' access to markets and financing.

Focus on inclusion and gender

• Promote sustainable entrepreneurship as a lever for social development for women.
• Integrate functional literacy and a rights-based approach into support programmes.
• Encourage the active participation of women in economic decision-making and cooperative governance.

Sustainable management of natural resources and mangroves

Our Objective

To ensure the protection and sustainable management of mangrove ecosystems while improving the living conditions of local communities through sustainable economic alternatives.

Our Actions

• Raising awareness among local communities about sustainable management of mangroves and natural resources.
• Training local stakeholders in regulations, waterway restoration and environmental management.
• Carrying out mangrove reforestation and maintenance activities.
• Developing sustainable economic sectors (e.g. market gardening, salt production, oyster farming, etc.) and alternative energy sources to reduce pressure on ecosystems.
• Participating in consultation frameworks and supporting mangrove governance authorities.

Our impact

This project contributes to the preservation of mangrove ecosystems, strengthens the resilience of local communities and promotes sustainable and inclusive natural resource management practices.

Sustainable management of the Mono Delta biosphere

Our objective

To improve the incomes of cassava producers in the Mono Delta Biosphere Reserve through a sustainable, environmentally friendly supply chain that benefits local communities.

Our Actions

• Training in agroecology for sustainable agricultural practices.
• Creation of mutual aid and training groups (communities of practice and learning).
• Establishment of farmer training fields to test and disseminate agricultural innovations.
• Facilitated access to improved seeds, biofertilisers and biopesticides.
• Strengthening of local organisations of cassava producers and processors.
• Support for women's cooperatives for the processing and promotion of cassava products.
• Development of local sales channels (restaurants, hotels, local shops).
• Strengthening of partnerships with local institutions and agricultural services.
• Promotion of contractualisation and formalisation of commercial exchanges.

Our Impact

This project improves the incomes of cassava producers, advances agroecological transition, and promotes the development of sustainable and inclusive local markets.