Benin - Secondary Towns Stormwater Drainage Programme (PAPVS)

The Secondary Towns Stormwater Drainage Programme (PAPVS) is one of the Government Action Programme (PAG) flagship programmes and is consistent with the National Development Plan (NDP). It concerns eight (8) towns, namely: Abomey, Abomey-Calavi, Bohicon, Natitingou, Ouidah, Parakou, Porto Novo, and Sèmè Podji. This programme seeks to scale up and consolidate a similar project that is being implemented in Cotonou. With co-financing from other partners such as EIB and BOAD, it is based on an integrated, multi-sector and multi-stakeholder approach to comprehensively mitigate the impacts of stormwater and address other issues such as sustainable waste management and its treatment in a circular economy. The main challenges faced by the PAPVS are: (i) inadequate flood management infrastructure, which is sometimes exacerbated by: inadequate services to the population, particularly in solid waste collection and transportation; and (ii) the people’s low resilience to the impacts of climate change. The Bank's operation is a response to the challenge of stormwater management resulting from low hydraulic capacity or lack of infrastructure which negatively impacts access to sanitation facilities and mobility as well during the rainy season and have negative impacts on economic development and the quality of life for people in urban areas. The project has two main components, namely: (i) Construction of resilient stormwater drainage infrastructure and Associated works; (ii) Building the climate resilience of populations and communities with high risk of flooding. The project contributes to climate finance, with 146 million USD of the total approved amount dedicated to adaptation.