The World Bank Board of Directors has approved two financial supports amounting to $180.7 million aimed at improving land tenure security and enhancing integrated forest management in Benin. These financings come from the International Development Association (IDA).
The first funding is a $100 million Performance for Results (PforR) operation designed to boost Benin’s national land tenure management initiative, Terra Benin. This project aims to make land administration services more efficient and expedite land registration across 14 municipalities, covering 124 districts in 11 departments. It plans to map about 1.5 million parcels, with one million registrations facilitated by advanced technology. The project benefits from additional support from the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery to integrate disaster risk data into e-Foncier Benin.
“This program will have large-scale impact by using technology to accelerate the electronic issuance of land certificates in both rural and urban settings. Secure access by every citizen to an official land document is the foundation for all economic development, particularly in the agricultural sector, which employs the most people," stated Marie-Chantal Uwanyiligira, World Bank Division Director for Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Togo.
The second credit of $80.7 million backs the next phase of Benin's Gazetted Forests Management Project. This project focuses on developing agroforestry and sustainable agricultural practices, and aims for reforestation and maintenance of forest plantations. Following the initial phase's success, phase two targets an additional 20,000 hectares of reforested fuelwood and timber plantations on degraded lands. The project also aims to help the government tap into carbon credit opportunities.
"Sustainable forest management supports economic development and reduces poverty. It preserves the environment while generating income for communities through reforestation and seedling maintenance. The production of timber and fuelwood provides investment opportunities and strengthens the economy," said Nestor Coffi, World Bank Country Manager for Benin.
The initial phase of the Gazetted Forests Management Project enhanced management for 63% of the gazetted forests, boosted access to sustainably produced fuelwood, and fortified non-timber forest product value chains. It established 26,000 hectares of plantations and sequestered 3 million tons of CO2 equivalent. More than 50,000 people, 32% of them women, gained improved income sources through various forest-related activities, leading to approximately $36 million in transfers to communities involved in reforestation efforts.