Improving water resources management and protecting from the impacts of climate change

Context

In Benin, climate change induces longer and more frequent droughts, flooding and storms. This impedes the protection of water bodies and the treatment of wastewater. At the same time, the demand for water in Benin’s agricultural sector, industry and households is steadily increasing. Conflicts over water are intensifying.

Objective

The Government of Benin successfully implements the national water action plan, which improves water resources management and wastewater disposal while also protecting the population from the impacts of climate change.

Approach

The programme works in various water catchment areas in the North and South of Benin. Using a water action plan, it supports the country in creating new standards to ensure that water resources are used in a gender-sensitive and climate-resilient manner. To this end, the government’s water policy incorporates the topics of water resources management, wastewater management, gender equality and climate change, and develops national strategy papers.

For example, the project promotes the implementation of integrated water resources management (IWRM) in the national government, the regions and municipalities. This also entails improving an early warning system for flooding. An additional objective is to ensure hygienic and safe wastewater treatment. One of the related pilot projects is researching the composting of sludge.

The project is working with several government ministries, with authorities in the intervention communities and with local water committees. The partners in Benin also include the Society for Waste Management and Urban Sanitation and the Training Centre for Water Professions.

Last update: June 2023