Benin | �鶹��Ƶ

The Republic of Benin, classified as a lower-middle-income country, has an estimated population of 13,551,992 (INSTAD, 2024).

Despite progress, poverty remains prevalent, with 36.2% of the population living below the national poverty line (INStaD, EHCVM 2022). In 2024, Benin ranks 134th out of 146 countries according to the Gender Inequality Index (PNUD). Agriculture is a key sector, contributing 35% to GDP, employing 70% of the workforce, and generating 75% of export earnings. However, the sector remains highly vulnerable to climate shocks. Benin ranks among the most climate-vulnerable countries globally and shows limited readiness for adaptation (ND-GAIN).

Rising global food and fuel prices��exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine��have further deteriorated food security. As of November 2025, 6.91% of the population (191,108 people) were facing crisis levels or worse of food insecurity (IPC phases 3�C5), with an additional 16.14% (447,323 people) in the stress phase (IPC 2). Malnutrition among children remains critical: 36.5% are stunted, 8.3% wasted, and 21% underweight (MICS 2021�C2022).

In response to education and nutrition challenges, the Government has prioritized school feeding. Since 2017, the National Integrated School Feeding Programme (PNASI), implemented with �鶹��Ƶ support, has reached 5,709 public primary schools and over 1.4 million children. The Government has invested USD 166 million in PNASI, reinforcing national ownership and alignment with key development strategies.

In September 2024, in accordance with the agreed roadmap, �鶹��Ƶ completed the handover of the programme to the newly established National Agency for Food and Nutrition (ANAN).

What the �鶹��Ƶ is doing in Benin

Emergency preparedness and response: Benin is classified as a country with an increasingly high level of risk due to combined vulnerabilities linked to natural disasters and the spillover of the Sahel security crisis, particularly in the northern regions where security challenges have caused significant displacement and disrupted cross-border trade. As of December 2025, more than 58,000 displaced persons��including refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced populations (UNHCR 2025) ��are in urgent need of assistance. In response, �鶹��Ƶ has scaled up its humanitarian operations by delivering unconditional cash-based transfers alongside targeted nutrition support for vulnerable women and children. �鶹��Ƶ also promotes local production of fortified infant flours through women��s groups to enhance nutrition and economic resilience. The programme intends to expand cash-based assistance, adapting to evolving contextual needs.
School feeding: Since 2017, �鶹��Ƶ has supported the Government of Benin in implementing the National Integrated School Feeding Programme (PNASI), expanding coverage from 31% to 75% of public primary schools, reaching over 1.4 million children. In September 2024, in line with the agreed roadmap, �鶹��Ƶ ensured the successful handover of the programme to the newly created National Agency for Food and Nutrition (ANAN). �鶹��Ƶ continues to provide technical assistance while directly implementing the Integrated School Feeding and Nutrition Project across 399 schools, funded by the Netherlands, with additional support from the Islamic Development Bank to support other 400 schools. The programme adopts a multisectoral approach, integrating education, nutrition, health, hygiene, and local production, and pilots cash-based transfers to enhance sustainability and efficiency.
Smallholder agricultural market support (SAMS): �鶹��Ƶ��s SAMS�� programme in Benin strengthens value chains by linking smallholder farmers to markets. It focuses on three pillars: improving service delivery by farmer organizations, increasing farmers�� production capacity, and creating a supportive market environment. The programme includes Home-Grown School Feeding, cash-based transfers, resilience, climate adaptation, nutrition, and gender-sensitive activities. Over 70 farmer organizations with more than 23,000 members (38% are women) have supplied more than 8,100 MT of maize, rice, and beans to �鶹��Ƶ. These organizations receive training in good agricultural practices and are equipped with post-harvest tools to meet quality and compliance standards. The proportion of local production in the school meal increased from 24% in 2021 to more than 82% in 2024 while the purchase from smallholder farmers increased by more than 800% these last two years (2002-2024).
Resilience: �鶹��Ƶ supports vulnerable communities in northern Benin, through targeted resilience activities aimed at strengthening their ability to withstand the impacts of the regional crisis. Key activities include the construction and rehabilitation of water management infrastructure, the restoration of degraded ecosystems and watersheds, the development and upgrading of production and post-harvest infrastructure, and the facilitation of knowledge sharing through workshops, webinars, and field visits. Four Community-Based Participatory Planning (CBPP) exercises have been conducted to identify local priorities. �鶹��Ƶ is now implementing tailored interventions based on these priorities to enhance community resilience and improve livelihoods through conditional cash transfer.
Capacity strengthening: �鶹��Ƶ strengthens the capacities of national and local institutions to facilitate the sustainable transition of the school feeding programme to government ownership. Support includes the development of school feeding legislation and enhancement of food security monitoring and early warning systems, notably through training on the mVAM data collection tool. In partnership with �鶹��Ƶ centers of excellence in Abidjan and Brazil, �鶹��Ƶ promotes South-South cooperation and best practice exchange. Capacity building extends to partners via innovative online training. Additionally, schools are equipped with agricultural and processing tools to improve nutrition, generate income, and empower women. In 2025, �鶹��Ƶ provided equipment for more than US$ 470,000 to 21 Smallholder farmers organizations. �鶹��Ƶ also reinforces emergency preparedness and coordination, ensuring adherence to operational standards.
Nutrition: �鶹��Ƶ��s nutrition interventions in Benin focus on preventing malnutrition and responding to emergencies through multisectoral approaches, including school-based nutrition education and social behavior change activities. In partnership with the government, �鶹��Ƶ delivered integrated emergency nutrition support to displaced persons in northern regions. Capacity building was provided to community nutrition workers, persons living with HIV associations, and health staff to improve nutrition monitoring and promote income-generating activities. �鶹��Ƶ also collaborates with local food producers to supply nutrient-rich foods for school feeding, supporting them with training on quality assurance and procurement processes to enhance local nutritious food availability.