ENG - UN CC:Learn

NIGER
AFRICA
BENIN
MDG7
Progress Towards Environmental Sustainability
The contamination of water, noted as one of Benin’s major environmental
challenges, is highlighted as one of the main causes of diarrhea and
gastroenteritis and therefore one of the main causes of death in Benin,
especially among children. Acute respiratory infection, with 15.4% of
reported pathology in 1999, ranks second as reason for doctor’s visits and
third for hospitalization. Similarly, the high incidence of respiratory and
infectious diseases linked to air pollution has led to a rate of 12.6% in
Cotonou alone.
BURKINA FASO
Djougou
Abomey
BENIN
Cotonou Porto Novo
Gulf of Guinea
With regards to the global MDG Target 10 of halving the proportion of the population without access to safe drinking water by
2015, Benin has set distinct country-specific targets that take into consideration the situation of its water resource management. For
instance,for the period 2003-2005,Benin plans to provide 878,500 persons living in rural areas with access to water points,which would
require 1800 safe drinking water points to be provided and 1200 old facilities to be rehabilitated during the same period.
Despite the absence of national policy on the matter of slum dwellers in Benin as well as insufficient available data on slum dwellers
and housing conditions, certain observations can still be made. Anarchic constructions, high cost of infrastructure in cities, and general
failure to recognize the link between the absence of decent lodging and poverty all leave the question of habitable zones at large.
The poor living conditions of slum dwellers may also be explained by Beninese traditional, sociological and cultural practices that
affect the livelihoods of a significant proportion of the population; there exists a strong desire to live in a home of one’s own despite
generally low incomes and available resources, which prompt many Beninese to build houses in unhealthy locations. 1
QUICK FACTS
CURRENT PORTFOLIO BUDGET
Total UNDP-GEF and Co-Finance: $3,575,000
Total UNDP and Co-Finance: $859,178
Total MPU and Bilateral: $143,027
Total: $4,577,205
GHANA
TOGO
Parakou
NIGERIA
Cumulative Total ODS Phased-Out:
27.3 ODP tonnes
SPOTLIGHT
Capacity Needs Assessment Helps Develop a Locally-Owned National Biodiversity Strategy 2
Benin ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1994.However, the country’s legal provisions have not kept up-to-date
with its plans to decentralize administration to give grassroots communities autonomous management of natural resources and
biodiversity. In addition, previous experience with biodiversity management revealed difficulties in adapting modern methods and
technologies to the social and cultural values of the local community. Furthermore, knowledge of the country’s biological potential
and taxonomy has been insufficient, limiting monitoring and protection of endangered species.
In 2001, to overcome these difficulties and enable Benin to meet its obligation under the CBD, with US$ 233,820 financing from the
GEF, UNDP launched a capacity needs assessment project to assist the Ministry of Environment, Habitat and Urbanism to develop a
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP). The NBSAP builds on and reinforces other existing national strategies and
plans, such as the National Environmental Action Plan.
The project is currently assessing resource requirements – human, financial and technical – for the formulation and adoption of new
legislation for improved local and national management of biodiversity. Among the project activities are: assessing capacity-building
needs for the monitoring of endangered species, identifying resources, strategies and skills needed in the area of taxonomy,
assessing needs for the thematic analysis and translation of local knowledge, and holding national workshops for consensus-building
on the necessity of utilizing indigenous knowledge favourable to biodiversity.
BIODIVERSITY
To-date, the project has enabled Benin to develop in situ and ex situ measures for conservation, harnessing indigenous knowledge,
developing mechanisms for sharing benefits, and strengthening the country’s participation in the CBD clearing house mechanism.
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