Water and Climate Resilience - Benin
1. Sector context and challenges
Water is a defining issue for Benin's economic, social, and environmental development. The country faces mounting pressure from demographic growth, rapid urbanisation, ecosystem degradation, and the effects of climate change. Recurrent flooding, seasonal droughts, growing strain on water resources, and the vulnerability of coastal areas all point to the same conclusion: sustainable water management is no longer optional, it is a condition for Benin's continued development.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands has stood alongside Benin in this sector for more than two decades. Since 2003, this strategic partnership has mobilised over €180 million, supporting improved access to drinking water, stronger sector governance, and the promotion of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). This cooperation draws on the Netherlands' internationally recognised expertise in water management, climate adaptation, and sustainable development expertise that has translated, over time, into concrete institutional and infrastructural gains for Benin.
2. Portfolio of projects and programmes
This long-term commitment has taken shape through several major programmes, each labelled below as implemented or ongoing.
IMPLEMENTED
Multi-Year Support Programme for the Water and Sanitation Sector (PPEA)
It is one of the founding pillar programmes of Dutch-Beninese cooperation in the water and climate resilience sector. It helped lay the institutional and technical groundwork for the reforms that followed.
Water Transition Fund (FTE)
This project supported the shift toward more sustainable and better-governed management of the water sector. The programme's main objective is to support access to drinking water, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas, through appropriate infrastructure.
OmiDelta
Deployed in southern Benin, the OmiDelta project strengthens the resilience of territories and institutions to climate and water-related challenges. Backed by the Government of Benin, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and development partners, the programme invests in integrated water resources management, the modernisation of sector governance, the preservation of aquatic ecosystems, and territorial planning in the face of climate risk.
DURAGIRE
This national project aims to promote sustainable, integrated water resources management in Benin. It has helped consolidate governance mechanisms and improve coordination among the sector's various actors. Carried out in close collaboration with Beninese institutions and technical and financial partners, the project is built around three strategic pillars:
● Strengthening the operational capacity of sector actors
● Institutional support to governance and sector dialogue
● Development of modern planning and integrated management tools
ONGOING
Invest International’s structuring projects
Since 2022, Dutch cooperation has entered a new phase, with Invest International financing large-scale, high-impact projects:
● The rehabilitation and development of Lake Nokoué, aimed at restoring the lake's ecological functions, improving living conditions for riverside communities, and supporting economic activities linked to fishing, river transport, and tourism.
● The construction of drinking water supply infrastructure for six cities in northern Benin, designed to durably strengthen access to safe water, improve public services, and support local economic development.
3. Overall sector contribution
Dutch-Beninese cooperation has progressively transformed the water sector by reinforcing institutional capacity, governance mechanisms, and essential infrastructure. Together, these programmes have improved access to water services, advanced Integrated Water Resources Management, and brought climate considerations more firmly into development planning. This long-standing engagement reflects a shared conviction that water security underpins nearly every other development priority from public health and food production to climate adaptation and economic growth.