This project supports the establishment of a Climate Finance Desk Unit (CFDU) embedded within the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Benin to strengthen the country’s capacity to access and mobilize green and climate finance for climate change adaptation.

The CFDU serves as a central institutional mechanism to provide strategic guidance, technical expertise, and coordination on climate finance. Drawing on global best practices, the Unit offers thought leadership to identify financing opportunities, support the development of bankable climate projects, and align national priorities with international climate finance requirements.

Through advisory support and institutional strengthening, the CFDU helps shape innovative approaches to climate finance access while contributing to reforms that enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of climate finance flows. Ultimately, the project aims to enable Benin to more effectively leverage climate finance to advance its climate resilience and green growth objectives.

The project aims to strengthen climate resilience in Benin by creating an enabling environment for climate-resilient policies, planning, and investments through improved access to climate finance.

Key Outcomes

National institutions are better equipped to access, mobilize, and manage international climate finance in support of adaptation and mitigation priorities.

 – Climate Finance Unit operationalized: A Climate Finance Unit is established within the Ministry of Economy and Finance to coordinate climate finance efforts and provide strategic guidance.

 – Institutional capacity strengthened: Public and private stakeholders enhance their technical capacity to access and manage climate finance through targeted training and knowledge support.

 – Bankable project pipeline developed: A pipeline of investment-ready climate projects is prepared and promoted to mobilize climate and green financing.

Benin is highly vulnerable to climate change, facing rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and more frequent floods, droughts, and coastal erosion. These impacts are already affecting key sectors such as agriculture and water resources, with consequences for livelihoods and economic stability.

The Government of Benin has demonstrated strong commitment to climate action through national adaptation and low-carbon development strategies, including its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (2021). Implementing these commitments requires significant financial, technological, and institutional capacity. Strengthening access to climate finance is therefore essential to translate national climate priorities into concrete, climate-resilient investments.