Benin receives €164 million loan to build stormwater drainage infrastructure

Porto-Novo, Benin (Image: pop_gino via AdobeStock - stock.adobe.com)

Benin has received €164 million (US$178.3 million) from the African Development Bank and a fund backed by China to build stormwater drainage infrastructure in four of its cities.

The number of communities at high risk of flooding has risen from 22 in 2010 to 35 in 2022 as a result of climate-change-induced extreme weather events and the disruption of seasonal rainfall patterns, according to the Bank.

The project will develop stormwater drainage infrastructure in the cities of Porto-Novo, Ouidah, Bohicon and Abomey.

It has three components: the first involves stormwater drainage infrastructure and related works, such as the construction of 42.7 km of primary and secondary collectors (large culverts) and 62.3 km of culverts; the asphalting of 18.7 km and the paving of 16.1 km of roads respectively.

It also covers the construction of 72 classrooms, 18 blocks of toilets with 36 hand-washing kits, housing for health workers, four drying sheds for fish smoking, two boreholes equipped with hand pumps, a public square and a public garden.

The plan also involves planting 5,521 seedlings, in addition to the reforestation of 17.22 hectares. Alongside the construction works will be an education programme to prevent gender-based violence, including sexual harassment.

The second component involves setting up a waste management and facility maintenance mechanism (training, equipment, elimination of existing dumps) and strengthening flood-risk warning and management system. A water retention basin and a market gardening area will be created.

The third component covers project management, monitoring and evaluation.

The African Development Bank will put up €118.8 million ($129.2 million) while €45.5 million ($49.5 million) will come from the Africa Growing Together Fund, co-financed by China.

Benin’s government will contribute €13.8 million ($15 million).