Benin has mobilized nearly 100 million euros, or approximately 65,5 billion FCFA, to finance several structural projects in the electricity, agriculture, and healthcare sectors. The agreements were signed this 5 of October in Paris, France, with the French Development Agency (AFD) and Bpifrance, the French public investment bank, on the occasion of the working visit of Beninese President 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 covers 5,39 million euros, approximately 3,54 billion in FCFA. The resources are intended to expand access to electricity, develop agricultural and fish farming sectors, and strengthen national capabilities in forensic expertise, according to a statement from the Beninese Presidency. 52,1 billion in FCFA to expand access to electricity.
The main funding is allocated to the electricity sector. Totaling 79,4 million euros (52,1 billion FCFA), it aims to strengthen the distribution network of the Beninese Electric Energy Company (SBEE).
Financing for the PEDER+ project (Electrical Extension and Densification Project of the 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 goal is to achieve more than 120 000 new connections in 750 localities spread across 15 municipalities in the Mono, Couffo, and Borgou regions.
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 service quality, reduce territorial disparities regarding access to electricity, and decrease technical and commercial losses on the network.
For the SBEE, this challenge is also decisive for sustainably improving the company's financial balance. 9,8 billion in FCFA for agriculture and fish farming. The second component 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 supply chains. Of this amount, 6,6 billion FCFA (10 million euros) will be devoted to developing the fish farming sector in ten municipalities of Alibori, Atacora, and Donga.
The funding is expected to structure the entire value chain, from fingerling production to fish marketing, with the ambition of increasing national production and improving product quality. An additional envelope of 3,3 billion FCFA (5 million euros) will be allocated to 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 goal is to strengthen local production, develop more structured value chains, and support economic activity in rural areas.
A national ADN expertise laboratory is planned. The third component of the partnership concerns the healthcare and justice sectors.
The mandate letter signed with Bpifrance paves the way for negotiating the financing of the Forensic Research, Investigation, and Analysis Platform (PRIAM). The project provides for the establishment of a national ADN expertise laboratory capable of performing up to 30 000 analyses per year.
Its implementation is envisaged with the Bordeaux Forensic Hematology Laboratory and with the support of a guarantee from Bpifrance Assurance Export. The framework also includes the training of more than 500 professionals as well as the creation of a specialized university curriculum.
Furthermore, Benin is targeting international accreditation ISO/IEC 17025 for this platform. This infrastructure should enable the country to develop genetic analysis capabilities on its own territory, which for some procedures have hitherto been dependent on foreign laboratories.
The objective is notably to reduce the delays and costs associated with forensic expertise while strengthening national skills. Through this mobilization, Benin seeks to transform external funding into investments directly linked to its development priorities.
Published on 06/10/26 13:07. Narcisse Angan