New approaches for climate and biodiversity action

  • Country: Benin
  • Organisation: Fonds National pour l’Environnement et le Climat (FNEC)
  • Support area: Adaptation to the consequences of climate change, Conserving biological diversity, Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions
  • Objective: Promote and finance small-scale climate (mitigation, adaptation) and/or biodiversity projects
  • IKI funding: 670,000 euros
  • Project start: 01/12/2021
  • Project end: 30/11/2023
  • Website: https://fnec-benin.org

The National Fund for Environment and Climate (Fonds National pour l’Environnement et le Climat, FNEC) set up an initiative to finance small-scale projects led by national civil society organisations. Through a call for proposals, the FNEC identified five NGOs that receive financial and technical support to implement projects aiming at adaptation of agricultural practices to climate change, protection of biodiversity, pasture management, protection of headwaters and sustainable valorisation of biological resources. The individual projects receive funding of up to 90,000 euros and technical support. Through this activity, FNEC also gains experience and strengthens its capacity to implement funding programmes in line with current international requirements for climate program implementers, for example in the field of monitoring, evaluation and environmental and social standards.

INITIAL SITUATION

Decentralized approaches play a major role in the implementation of Benin’s environmental and climate policies. FNEC is a financing mechanism that can make a relevant contribution to the implementation of such decentralized approaches by supporting respective projects of different implementing organizations. However, for this to happen, the fund needs to strengthen its capacities, increase its visibility and expand its portfolio in the thematic spectrum of climate change mitigation and biodiversity.  

TARGET GROUPS

National NGOs working in the climate change and biodiversity sectors are eligible to participate in the call. They must meet certain requirements regarding their institutional capacities and experience in the field of climate and biodiversity conservation.  

LATEST PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS AND IMPACTS

  • A call for proposals was launched and attracted 40 project submissions; five projects were selected and receive funding.
  • FNEC staff training on mobilization of finance and on GCF environmental and social standards
  • COP 27 side event: FNEC director shared experience as funding organisation on a panel on the impact of small grants with government officials
  • Website updated

PROJECT APPROACH

The general objective of FNEC´s initiative, supported by IKI Small Grants, is to promote and finance small-scale climate and biodiversity projects in Benin, implemented by national civil society organisations. The projects shall implement measures in the agricultural sector, the water resources sector, the energy sector as well as the biodiversity and forestry sector. 

To identify and select projects, a team of FNEC managers will organize a call for proposals, provide training to potential project promoters on how to draw up projects, evaluate and finally select the best project proposals. Among the selection criteria are: environmental and social compliance, gender sensitivity and the potential to scale up of innovations. FNEC will monitor the project implementation and evaluate the results and impacts reached at the end of the project. Finally, a dissemination of the project achievements is planned. 

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION

The National Fund for Environment and Climate (Fonds National pour l’Environnement et le Climat, FNEC) is a financial instrument under the supervision of the Ministry of Living Environment and Sustainable Development in Benin. The organisation was founded in 2003 and responds to a need to support and finance initiatives related to environmental protection and climate change. The financing mechanism for programs and projects aims at the protection and rational management of the environment, the fight against the harmful effects of climate change and the promotion of a sustainable development in Benin.  

SELECTED PROJECTS

Community feeding and watering site for livestock in the commune of Djidja 
Support area: Adapting to the impacts of climate change
Organisation: Equilibre d’Afrique 
Description:

Overexploitation of pasture and water resources by transhumant herders lead to degradation of natural resources and conflicts of use with farmers in the project region. The project strengthens sustainable pasture management, fodder production by arable farmers, establishment of  hedges and provision of drinking troughs and fodder plots for model farmers.

Restoration and sustainable conservation of the Kpékonzoun sacred forest in the commune of Adjohoun 
Support area: Conserving biological diversity
Organisation: Organization for Sustainable Development and Biodiversity (ODDB) 
Description:

The Kpékonzoun sacred forest is one of the last forest reserves in the commune of Adjohoun. It is threatened by trade of wood and uncontrolled hunting. The project contributes to the sustainable management of the forest through the sustainable valorization of its biological resources and strengthening the resilience of local communities. 

Preservation of the Perma River Headwaters in Kamborifa 
Support area: Adapting to the impacts of climate change
Organisation: Benin Culture Development Friendship (BCDA) 
Description:

The headwaters of the Perma River are degrading due to increasing pressure of use. The project promotes the sustainable management of water resources through infrastructure (boreholes, drinking troughs for animals, collective laundry areas with water collection pits), the spread of market gardening production and the restoration of vegetation (gallery forests and river banks) with native species. 

Strengthening the resilience of food security in response to climate change in the Commune of Houéyogbé 
Support area: Adapting to the impacts of climate change
Organisation: Organization for the Development of Grassroots Initiatives (ODIB) 
Description:

Due to changes in precipitation, droughts and floods are occurring more frequently in the community of Houéyogbé. In order to increase the resilience of the population to these climate fluctuations, adapted agricultural practices are being promoted. In addition, the processing of agricultural products and market access are strengthened through agricultural business clusters. 

Preservation and valorization of the ecosystems of the Bourandou community forest and the Sinatabe sacred forest
Support area: Conserving natural carbon sinks / forestry
Organisation: Women's Association for a Fulfilled Youth (AFeJE)
Description:

The degradation of forest areas is counteracted by restoring vegetation and establishing sustainable land use methods. In the surrounding area, local communities are trained in sustainable land management and alternative income opportunities are created (bee-keeping, sustainable fisheries, small animals).