When the powerful waves crashed onto the shores of Aného, Togo, and Grand Popo, Benin in April 2024, communities of these neighboring West African border towns were unfazed. Seeking relief from the hot sun, they gathered under coconut trees to enjoy the fresh sea breeze.
But not long ago, living by the sea was terrifying for these same people. “There are no words to describe what the sea put us through,” recalls Ayayi Hounlede, a resident of the Flamani neighborhood on the coast of Aného. “At high tide, powerful waves over two meters high would crash and break the walls and doors of our homes, flooding them completely. We faced the risk of electrocution, and the men had to stay up all night to protect the women and children.”
About thirty kilometers away in Grand-Popo, Benin, Couao-Zoti Ahlin Gustave remembers when his hotel collapsed due to powerful waves. A lifetime’s investment swallowed by the sea.
For decades, fast-moving coastal erosion has ravaged the West African coast, destroying investments and threatening lives. Each year, Benin and Togo lose about 15 meters of coastline; in some places between 20 to 30 meters.
Amidst this dire situation emerges hope with the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program (WACA), launched in 2018 and financed by the World Bank through the International Development Association (IDA) with $594 million.
In Benin and Togo, WACA has funded approximately twenty major cross-border infrastructures spanning over 42 kilometers. From Agbodrafo to Aného in Togo and Hillacondji to Grand-Popo in Benin, there has been a significant retreat of the sea by hundreds of meters. “In Grand-Popo, the sea has receded by more than 200 meters,” says Joycelyn Ayité Ayi, mayor of Grand-Popo.
Behind these numbers lies a human story: 27,000 households comprising about 145,000 individuals are now protected from flooding threats. “We now sleep peacefully,” says Hounlédé. “We have regained our beach.”
The restored beach in Aného has become a vibrant hub for recreation and sports. Mayor Aquereburu reflects that “WACA is not merely a project; it’s a beacon of hope.”
On Togo's and Benin's coasts, artisanal fishing is regaining intensity. Djourdé Bouboukari explains that fish have returned due to WACA’s work on underwater excavations used for rebuilding beaches. "Fish thrive in pits," he says.
Florence Akouété no longer faces supply shortages as a fishmonger in Kpémé: "We get fish every day except on Wednesdays." She supports her family with her earnings from selling smoked fish.
WACA's efforts are also restoring investor confidence in ecotourism. Lionel Djondo is building a new beachfront hotel encouraged by WACA's results. The mayor of Grand-Popo plans to capitalize on their strategic location with ecotourism infrastructure development.
Beyond coastal protection, WACA focuses on ecological restoration and poverty reduction. Mangroves are being revived across coastal areas: 87 hectares are protected in Togbin Adounko Community Biodiversity Conservation Area in Benin while 257 hectares have been planted in Togo.
WACA also targets women with economic initiatives like grants enabling cooperatives to acquire modern equipment for enhanced activities. Other partners such as Agence française de développement and Invest International contribute additional funding for continued coastal protection works.
“The development challenges of coastal erosion must be addressed with a regional approach,” says Boutheina Guermazi from World Bank Regional Integration for Africa and Middle East.
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