Benin has mobilized nearly 100 million euros, or approximately 65,5 billion FCFA, to finance several structural projects in the electricity, agriculture, and health sectors. The agreements were signed this 5 October in Paris, France, with the French Development Agency (AFD) and Bpifrance, the French public investment bank, during the working visit of Beninese Minister Romuald Wadagni to France.
In detail, two agreements concluded with the AFD represent 94,4 million euros, or 61,9 billion in FCFA, while a mandate letter signed with Bpifrance concerns 5,39 million euros, approximately 3,54 billion in FCFA. The resources are intended, in particular, to expand access to electricity, develop agricultural and fish farming sectors, and strengthen national capabilities in forensic expertise, indicates a statement from the Beninese Presidency. 52,1 billion in FCFA to expand access to electricity.
The main financing is dedicated to the electricity sector. Totaling 79,4 million euros (52,1 billion FCFA), it aims to strengthen the distribution network of the Beninese Electric Power Company (SBEE).
The financing for the PEDER+ project (Project for the extension and densification of electrical networks) combines a loan of 50 million euros (32,8 billion FCFA) from the AFD and a grant of 29,4 million euros (19,3 billion FCFA) from the European Union. The objective is to carry out more than 120 000 new connections in 750 localities spread across 15 municipalities in Mono, Couffo, and Borgou.
The municipalities concerned include Athiémé, Bopa, Comè, Grand-Popo, Houéyogbé, Lokossa, Aplahoué, Djakotomey, Dogbo, Klouékanmè, Lalo, Toviklin, N'Dali, Parakou, and Tchaourou. Beyond extending the number of subscribers, the project is intended to help improve the quality of service, reduce territorial disparities regarding access to electricity, and decrease technical and commercial losses of the network.
For the SBEE, this challenge is also decisive for sustainably improving the financial equilibrium of the company. 9,8 billion in FCFA for agriculture and fish farming. The second part of the financing mobilized in Paris concerns the development of agricultural sectors.
A total envelope of 9,8 billion FCFA (15 million euros) is planned to support fish farming and several local industries. Of this amount, 6,6 billion FCFA (10 million euros) will be devoted to the development of the fish farming sector in ten municipalities of Alibori, Atacora, and Donga.
The financing is expected to make it possible to structure the entire value chain, from the production of fry to the marketing of fish, with the ambition of increasing national production and improving product quality. An additional envelope of 3,3 billion FCFA (5 million euros) will be intended for productive agricultural investments in the poultry, rabbit, protein crop, and oilseed sectors.
These resources will benefit 16 municipalities in Borgou, Donga, Collines, and Zou. Through these investments, the objective is to strengthen local production, develop more structured value chains, and support economic activity in rural areas.
A national ADN expertise laboratory in the pipeline. The third part of the partnership concerns the health and justice sector.
The mandate letter signed with Bpifrance paves the way for negotiating financing for the Forensic Research, Investigation, and Analysis Platform (PRIAM). The project provides for the establishment of a national ADN expertise laboratory capable of carrying out up to 30 000 analyses per year.
Its realization is envisioned in collaboration with the Bordeaux Forensic Hematology Laboratory and with the support of the Bpifrance Assurance Export guarantee. The mechanism also provides for the training of more than 500 professionals as well as the creation of a specialized university curriculum.
Furthermore, Benin is aiming for ISO/IEC 17025 international accreditation for this platform. This infrastructure is expected to allow the country to develop genetic analysis capabilities on its own territory that, for certain procedures, were previously dependent on foreign laboratories.
The objective is in particular to reduce the timeframes and costs associated with forensic expertise, while strengthening national skills. Through this mobilization, Benin is thus seeking to transform external financing into investments directly linked to its development priorities.
Published on 06/10/26 13:07. Narcisse Angan