- Status
- Completed
- Period
- 2024
- Area
- Communes of Gogounou and Malanville, Alibori department
- Areas of work
- Community development · Conservation
In northern Benin rural women play a central role in using and managing natural resources, yet they have limited access to land, credit, training and decision-making. That economic vulnerability leaves them more exposed to environmental degradation and unsustainable resource use.
The project turns this around: it strengthens the economic autonomy of women and girls through activities compatible with conservation — beekeeping, processing of non-timber forest products, crafts — and brings them into decisions about their territory's resources.
Objective
Strengthen the economic autonomy of vulnerable girls and women in Gogounou and Malanville while fostering their participation in the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
What we did
Beekeeping, agricultural processing and sustainable natural resource management for 250 women.
Introduction to tailoring and start-up support for income-generating activities for 50 girls.
Three women's cooperatives processing and marketing shea, honey and néré.
A mutual microcredit fund attached to the cooperatives to finance green micro-enterprises.
Campaigns with girls, women, leaders and parents on gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, and women's place in resource management.
Results
Figures from the 2024 annual report. They count participations, not de-duplicated individuals.
In their words
« Thanks to this project I learned to produce quality honey, and I can now provide for my family. »
Samoussiatou Orou Masso, beekeeper, Gogounou« I had never had a paid activity. Today my small business and my cooperative allow me to send my children to school. »
Mariam Gado, shea processor, MalanvilleIn pictures
Take this further
The cooperatives need processing equipment and wider market access. Let's talk.