Posts

, , , ,

Hunger in Benin

Hunger in BeninHunger in Benin affects thousands of people across the country. According to the World Food Programme, most of the Republic of Benin’s population of 11.2 million people live primarily in rural areas. Almost 10% of them struggle with food insecurity. However, Benin also exemplifies some of the successes that international organizations and state governments have had in collaborating with Benin’s leadership to create positive change. Two key players in Benin’s fight against hunger are the nonprofit The Hunger Project and USAID, the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Hunger in Benin specifically affects vulnerable groups like young children. The World Food Programme warns that chronic malnutrition is a major threat to Benin affecting the development of up to 32% percent of its children ages five and younger. Suffering from chronic malnutrition at this age can negatively affect children’s health later in life.

The Hunger Project in Benin

The Hunger Project has been working in Benin since 1997 and uses the ‘epicentre strategy’ to fight hunger. It works to organize around 138 villages (311,078 people) into 18 different epicenters for greater collective action. Using this strategy allows for villages in Benin to share resources and address hunger and food insecurity together. As a group, the villages learn and cultivate self-reliance.

The villages are able to capitalize on aid the Hunger Project provides initially and then, through developing community infrastructure, communities become self-reliant. This has proven successful in three epicenters already. Each epicenter focuses on four core phases for success: “Mobilization (I), Construction (II), Programme Implementation (III) and Transition to Self-reliance (IV).”

USAID’s Role in Helping Alleviate Hunger

The United States coordinates its international aid efforts through organizations like USAID. Specifically in Benin, USAID contributes to the “new alliance for food security and nutrition,” which organizes the G7 states with the Republic of Benin’s government to invest in the agricultural sector. The World Food Programme reported that agriculture makes up to 70% of the country’s employment. Furthermore, agriculture is responsible for 25% of Benin’s GDP. Increased investment will undoubtedly aid in hunger alleviation.

Additionally, USAID helps Benin fight off major food insecurity causes like pests in crops. One pest that USAID is addressing is the Fall Armyworm (FAW). FAW is particularly dangerous to African crops because it feeds on maize, a key food source for more than 300 million African families. Across the 12 main maize-producing countries in Africa, the Fall Armyworm can cause an annual loss of “between $3.6 and $6.2 billion.” That kind of loss can devastate farmers.

To combat FAW, USAID held a “Fall Armyworm Workshop” in Benin in 2018, bringing agricultural experts, plant protection experts and technical staff. The workshop was intended to educate farmers and other essential workers on how to locate, identify and exterminate the pests.

Looking Ahead

Hunger in Benin continues to be an obstacle for the country. Benin only scored a 51/100 on the 2019 Global Food Security Index. But with multilateral support from state governments and international organizations, Benin represents a model for successful collaborative efforts to address hunger and poverty collectively, as it has risen above the regional average score of 47.9/100 for food security.

– Kiahna Stephens
Photo: Flickr

, , , ,

Five Development Projects in Benin

Five Development Projects in BeninIn Benin, 40 percent of the country lives below the poverty line. The conditions force residents of the country to migrate on a regular basis. The country’s increased investments in infrastructure and sustained economic growth rate highlight its potential to move in the right direction. Below is an overview of five development projects in Benin that could help the country reduce poverty.

Agricultural Productivity and Diversification Additional Financing

One of the ways for a country to reduce poverty is to invest in agricultural programs. This project allows Benin to invest more heavily in its agriculture, as it will restore and improve productivity. It will also support the promotion of improved technologies and the development of production via water management.

Public Investment Management and Governance Support Project

This project will help reduce poverty and increase shared prosperity. The World Bank has issued a $30 million credit to Benin that will better facilitate the efficiency and management of this project. Their aim is to enhance good governance, accountability and promote more transparent management of public funds.

Small Town Water Supply and Urban Septage Management Project

About 22 percent of the country does not have access to adequate drinking water. The Small Town Water Supply and Urban Septage Management Project will increase access to water supply and sanitation. It will also strengthen the service delivery capacity of water supply and sanitation as well as prepare an effective response to potential emergencies.

Energy Service Improvement Project

This project will improve utility power performance and expand access to electricity to various areas across the country. It also aims to promote community-based management of forest resources. Investing in infrastructure is important to build up an economy, so this project, among other development projects in Benin, is extremely important.

National Community Driven Development (CDD) Project

The CDD project has provided grassroots management training. This has helped contribute to the decentralization process and strengthening of both local government and community capacities to better plan and implement development projects. Under the project, 81,000 children have enrolled in school and 10,000 people have gained access to a clean water supply.

These development projects in Benin have the capability of reducing poverty in the country and improving the lives of the individuals who reside there.

– Dezanii Lewis

Photo: Flickr

, ,

10 Facts About Beninese Refugees

10 Facts About Benin Refugees
Benin is a French-speaking West African nation, home to the Vodun (Voodoo) religion, established in 1960. Benin is a country in which Beninese have fled their own country to seek asylum in other countries, while also accepting refugees from neighboring countries. Here are 10 facts about Beninese refugees:

  1. The Beninese government cooperates with the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in assisting refugees and asylum seekers on their rights and basic needs within Benin.
  2. U.N. agencies in Benin joined efforts with the Beninese government to provide refugee-hosting families with assistance and to reinforce social infrastructures such as schools and health facilities for the new arrivals.
  3. In 2016, 710 people fled Benin and applied for asylum in other countries. This corresponds to approximately 0.007 percent of all residents of Benin.
  4. The most desired destination countries for Beninese refugees to flee have been Italy, Germany and the United States. The most successful refugees from Benin have been in Canada and in Italy.
  5. Refugees have put in applications for asylum in Italy, Germany, the United States, France, Belgium, Brazil, South Africa, Canada, Austria, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Spain and Morocco. However, overall, 96 percent of these asylum applications have been rejected.

While many Beninese people left Benin, many people have also sought out Benin to seek asylum from their own countries.

  1. More than 200,000 Togolese (from Togo in West Africa) have gone into exile, while most reached neighboring countries such as Ghana and Benin seeking asylum.
  2. After the recent election in Togo, a total of 26,154 people left Togo and sought asylum in Ghana and Benin, according to the United Nations.
  3. Due to the influx of Togolese refugees into Benin, the country urged the international community to send $6.5 million in aid.
  4. According to the United Nations, most of the refugees in Benin are “living with family and friends, with UNHCR providing transport for new arrivals who wish to stay with relatives.”
  5. In 2015, there were 530 refugees in Benin, which was a drastic drop from prior years.

The mid-2000s brought a surge of Togolese refugees into Benin, while at the same time some Beninese sought asylum in other countries. As of 2016, the number of refugees in Benin had drastically dropped and continues to stay at a low amount. These 10 facts about Beninese refugees show how political situations affect a number of asylum seekers.

– Stefanie Podosek

Photo: Flickr

, ,

The Benin Poverty Rate Could Soon Be Decreased

Benin Poverty Rate
Even with 15 years of rising poverty, child trafficking, famine and corrupt government officials, Benin is in a perfect position to turn itself around.

Despite an annual GDP growth rate of four to five percent over the past 20 years, the Benin poverty rate increased from 28 percent in 2002 to 40 percent in 2015. The country currently ranks 167 out of 187 countries on the 2011 UNDP Human Development Index. As a result, 29 percent of children are malnourished and the life expectancy is only 55 years. If Benin does not improve and expand its economy, it could be in trouble. The country is not prepared for the oncoming massive entry of young people into the workforce. Roughly 45 percent of its population is under 15.

Rural areas are responsible for the high Benin poverty rate. Roughly 50 percent of the country’s population relies on small-scale agriculture for employment. However, poor seeds, poor farming materials and famine caused by global warming ensure malnourishment and poverty.

Widespread corruption is another problem in Benin. The country has harsh libel laws that are used to intimidate and imprison journalists. The country is ranked 95 out of 175 countries in Transparency International’s 2016 Corruption Perception Index.

These problems lead to many parents trafficking their children in harsh conditions in Nigeria. The parents often feel forced to do this because of a lack of food and crippling debt. Accounts include boys between the ages of 8 and 10 made to swim to the bottom of polluted lakes to collect sand for cement. For each canoe filled with sand, the boys make one dollar.

The Benin poverty rate is high; despite this, the country is in the perfect position to turn itself around. The country has one of the most stable democracies in Africa. Since 1989, it has held six presidential elections, seven legislative elections and three local elections, all of which were peaceful. This is partly because a courageous press keeps tabs on the government despite intimidation. According to the International Press Institute, Benin has one of the region’s “most vibrant media landscapes”.

Recently, the government has started to introduce reforms. The government has made child trafficking punishable by 20 years in jail. In 2016, the government adopted Government’s Program of Action, an ambitious development program dedicated to improving productivity and living conditions in the country.

If the government is truly dedicated to bringing down the Benin poverty rate, conditions will certainly improve. No more children will be trafficked. Poverty and malnourishment will end. However, it all depends on the Benin press and the international community putting pressure on corrupt politicians to actually work for the people.

– Bruce Edwin Ayres Truax
Photo: Flickr

, , ,

Five Areas of Human Rights in Benin

Human Rights in BeninBenin is a small West African nation located just west of Nigeria. The first African nation to successfully transfer power from a dictatorship to a democracy, Benin continues to be one of Africa’s most solid democracies. This democratic stability has contributed to constitutional and legal rights and protection of human rights in Benin.

Despite the various protections afforded under the law, there are still some challenges regarding human rights in Benin.

  1. Major issues with prison conditions plague Benin. The most notable issue is overcrowding. A 2015 report from the NGO Watchdog on the Justice System in Benin found inhumane conditions in 10 civil prisons, including significant overcrowding, malnutrition and disease. A delegation from the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture found similar congestion issues during inspections conducted in January 2016. Legislative attempts have been made to address overcrowding. A new community service law was adopted in June 2016 to reduce congestion through non-detention sentences. New penal code regulations requiring a person to be presented to judicial authority within 48 hours of their arrest have also contributed to improved prison conditions.
  2. Issues with police have also been widespread in Benin. Police in the country is under-equipped and poorly trained, despite efforts to expand infrastructure and equipment. Corruption is an issue in the police force, with police extorting money from people at roadblocks. There have also been issues with impunity following police violations and abuses. While citizens can file complaints, their immunity often simply leads to direct presidential involvement to solve problems.
  3. Problems with corruption extend into the government. While there are criminal penalties for corruption, the law is often applied ineffectively, allowing some officials to engage in corruption without penalty. The court system is also highly susceptible to corruption. Transparency International reported that the judiciary in Benin is the weakest of 13 different Beninese institutions with regards to corruption. Inability to enforce corruption laws due to lack of independence of the judiciary plays a significant role in the presence of corruption in Benin.
  4. Violation of women’s rights persists in Benin. Despite the constitutional assurance of the equality of women, discrimination in political, economic and social spheres continues due to societal attitudes. Specific practices include discrimination in hiring, credit, equal pay and business ownership or management. Domestic abuse is present, often going unpunished. Additionally, female genital mutilation is widespread in Benin, occurring on girls and women from infancy to age 30, with a majority of instances occurring before age 13. While the practice of female genital mutilation is mostly happening in northern rural areas and carries harsh legal penalties, the continuation of the practice is a major violation of human rights.
  5. Children’s rights have seen some growth in Benin, with legislation implemented to fight trafficking, abuse, child labor and discrimination. Growth has also been seen in health and education. However, numerous concerns are still present in these areas so much improvement is still needed. Despite NGO campaigns, infanticide is still a major issue in Benin, forced early marriages occur in the country and female genital mutilation is also a problem affecting girls and young women. Even with laws present to protect against these issues, impunity for perpetrators is widespread.

The Takeaway

Active steps are being taken, especially in the form of legislation, to protect human rights in Benin. However, a major theme that can be seen in the country is the failure to effectively implement many of these laws, leading to impunity in the face of violations. Proper implementation and follow-through of appropriate punishments for violations will be a major step to protecting human rights in Benin.

– Erik Beck

Photo: Flickr

, ,

How to Help People in Benin

How to Help People in Benin
In Benin, 36.2 percent of the population lives on less than $1.25 per day. Although the country is a stable democracy, corruption and a lack of economic development prevent Benin from raising more of its population above the poverty line.

USAID supports Benin’s development in food security, human rights, gender equality and health. The best way to help people in Benin is to show support for USAID so that Congress will continue to allocate funds to this agency.

So, how to help people in Benin? Call local congressmen and urge them to protect the International Affairs budget. Proposed budget cuts will decrease funding for USAID and the State Department by 31 percent.

Benin has a Global Food Security Index score of 40.2 out of 100. USAID supports agriculture and food security by working to increase private investment in Benin’s agriculture and by encouraging sustainable agricultural productivity.

Benin scores well on measures of effective governance compared to the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, with a political corruption rating that is about half of the average for the surrounding region (a higher score indicates more corruption). Democracy and respect for human rights are encouraged by USAID’s two anti-corruption initiatives.

A civil society support program works with communities in Benin by educating people about high-level corruption and supporting legislation that reduces the likelihood of future corruption. The National Anti-Corruption Agency, directly supported by USAID, ensures that corruption cases are seen by the Ministry of Justice and are dealt with using appropriate judicial processes.

For measures of gender equality, Benin ranks lower than the average of the surrounding region, with only 7.2 percent of seats in national parliament occupied by women. USAID bolsters the ability of service organizations to provide support to victims of gender-based violence and educates local women leaders to spread awareness about gender-based violence laws.

Benin ranks well compared to its neighbors in health measures, but still has an average life expectancy of 59 years, which is significantly shorter than that of developed nations. USAID focuses on improving access to reproductive health services, fighting malaria and HIV/AIDS and training health workers to allow people in remote communities to access basic health care.

Part of USAID’s efforts within health in Benin is dedicated to obstetric fistula repair and prevention. Every year, 1,300 women in Benin do not survive childbirth, and 26,000 suffer from postpartum complications including obstetric fistula.

This condition is characterized by a hole in the birth canal due to prolonged labor without sufficient medical attention. The condition causes leaking of feces and urine, which often results in these women being shamed and ostracized from their communities.

USAID provides funding to the Integrated Family Health Project, which partners with local NGOs to combat fistula. The program focuses on treating existing fistulas, prevention, community education and helping recovered women resume their life.

One woman in Benin developed fistula at 34 years old after a prolonged childbirth. All of her friends and family abandoned her due to the smell of leaking urine and waste.

She learned of an opportunity for fistula repair through the radio, and she was transported to a hospital and given the surgery she needed for free thanks to USAID. She thanks the program for giving her back her life.

To help people in Benin in several influential ways, give local congressmen a quick phone call to support the International Affairs budget.

– Kristen Nixon

Photo: Flickr

, , ,

4 of the Most Common Diseases in Benin

Common Diseases in BeninBenin is a small, West African country nestled between Togo and Nigeria. In terms of land mass, it’s about the size of Pennsylvania, with a population of 10.7 million. Benin has made great strides in recent years, but its population is still plagued by preventable diseases. For the international community to help, it’s important to pinpoint the most common diseases in Benin. Here’s a list of the top four:

Lower Respiratory Infections

This category of diseases includes acute bronchitis, bronchiolitis, influenza, and pneumonia. A leading cause for these infections is air pollution. In big cities like Cotonou, pollution is a huge concern. With a population of more than one million, Contou has some of the highest emissions outputs in the region. This air pollution is a major health risk, especially for children. It accounts for 15 percent of premature deaths in Benin. But the risk can be alleviated. Research has shown that risk decreases when children are properly nourished and breastfed from birth.

Malaria

Malaria is both one of the most common diseases in Benin and one of the most well-known. It accounts for 21 percent of premature deaths. Recently, strains of drug-resistant malaria have become common, including the strain P. Falciparum. Developments like this make malaria even harder eradicate. Nonetheless, government officials in Benin are working hard to make malaria a thing of the past. Benin is part of the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), which is led by USAID and the CDC. PMI aims to eliminate malaria as a common disease within the next six years. And if accomplished, thousands of lives in Benin could be saved.

Diarrheal Diseases

This class of diseases takes away the lives of five percent of Benin citizens a year. One of the main causes of these diarrheal diseases is poor sanitation. This includes things like drinking contaminated water or not having access to running water. The diseases can also be caused by poorly kept toilets with no running water. However, research shows these diseases can be prevented by simply washing one’s hands before eating. Prevention can also take the form of better infrastructure for distributing and treating water. Currently, diarrheal diseases are one of the most common diseases in Benin. But they don’t have to remain that way.

Preterm Birth Complications

In Benin, preterm birth complications are the leading cause of neonatal death. A total of 217 years of life are lost every year because of complications during a pregnancy in Benin. Unfortunately, only 61 percent of the female population seek antenatal care. However, this can be changed. UNICEF currently has detailed strategies on their website outlining essential practice for prenatal and newborn care. By welding data with on-the-ground experience, doctors in Benin can reduce preterm birth complications.

The common diseases in Benin can seem scary and alien from far away. But when examined, it’s clear that many of these diseases are preventable. Organizations like UNICEF and WHO have already started to make a difference. And you can make a difference too. Call your representatives, and ask for our government do more to help those in need.

– Adesuwa Agbonile

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Why Is Benin Poor?

Why Is Benin PoorBenin is a small, mostly rural country on Africa’s west coast. It has nearly 11 million people and around half live on less than a dollar a day. The relatively new nation is among the world’s poorest countries. Why is Benin poor? The following are a few main reasons.

One reason is poor agricultural practices. Cotton makes up about 70 percent of Benin’s export earnings, so the country’s economy is at risk of low levels of crop production.

The country’s emphasis on cotton has led to land degradation, making it even more difficult for small-scale Beninese farmers to earn a living. Monoculture and pesticide use damages the land’s fertility and reduces cotton and other crop production.

Eighty percent of Benin’s population earns a living through agriculture, and this puts millions of people in a vulnerable position. Farmers may face low rainfall in dry seasons and disastrous floods in wet seasons. Poor farmers may not be able to afford fertilizer, farm machinery or good seeds. All those things would improve crop yields and hence profits when used correctly.

Another obstacle for farmers is a lack of education on what is necessary for optimal crop growth. They may adhere to monoculture farming or plant seeds too close together when it is best to practice crop diversification and give plants enough room to grow.

Another answer to the question of why is Benin poor is low education rates. The literacy rate for people aged 15 and up is 38 percent.

Six years of free primary education is required in Benin, but around one in every four children does not complete it. Some children have to help financially support their families if their parents do not earn enough or a parent died from a disease such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis A or malaria.

More than one million Beninese children are employed. They work in family farms, construction sites, small businesses, markets and more. According to the World Factbook, many families even send their children to work in wealthy households as servants. Children leaving school to work greatly reduces their chances of getting an education and, consequently, breaking the cycle of poverty.

Uncertain trade is another cause of poverty. Benin’s economy could benefit from increasing trade. Benin’s annual exports reach $1.8 billion, but it imports $2.6 billion, creating a trade deficit.

According to the World Bank, “Benin’s economy relies heavily on informal re-export and transit trade with Nigeria, which makes up roughly 20 percent of GDP.” Despite this, Benin’s trade with its neighbor Nigeria is not as high as it could be. Nigeria imposes import bans and high tariffs on goods ranging from used cars to cigarettes.

Benin is susceptible to market shocks because of its reliance on Nigeria’s much larger economy. Low oil prices and low growth in Nigeria indirectly affect Benin, according to the World Bank.

International cooperation is tackling the root causes of poverty in Benin. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has taught thousands of farmers how to increase productivity by diversifying crops and implementing better agronomic practices.

Other programs in Benin aim to increase primary school enrollment to get as many children as possible on the path to education. The Global Partnership for education has grown the primary school completion rate from 40 to 54 percent in target districts and has trained more than 10,000 teachers.

Although Benin remains one of the world’s poorest countries, its economic outlook is improving. The government’s 2016 to 2021 action program is expected to boost the economy 6.2 percent in 2018. The plan aims to reduce poverty by focusing on the Benin’s agricultural potential, trade position and industrial sector. Maybe soon no one will have to ask: Why is Benin poor?

– Kristen Reesor

Photo: Flickr

, , ,

Five Facts on Education in Benin


Centered between the countries of Nigeria and Togo, Benin resides on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean with a population of roughly 10 million. Education in Benin has been free for 10 years.

Benin has maintained a strong, democratic-style government since 1990 when it changed its name to the Republic of Benin. BBC News called the country “one of Africa’s most stable democracies.” Although Benin has a stable government, the country still faces plenty of issues.

Among these issues was the near-collapse of the economy in 1988, a 50 percent currency devaluation that caused inflation in 1994 and devastating floods that destroyed 55,000 homes, killed tens of thousands of livestock and displaced 680,000 people in 2010.

However, education in Benin has proved to be one of the bright spots of the nation’s domestic affairs.

Here are five facts about education in Benin:

  1. Education in Benin was declared free during an educational forum that took place in 2007. With free education, students are able to access Benin’s educational system that operates under 6-4-3-3-4 format. Students are taught in French, the primary language of the country, to start their educational journey by attending six years of primary school, followed by four years of junior high school, then three years senior high school, three years of a bachelor’s degree and finish with four years of a master’s degree. However, for students to pass junior high school, they must take the O-Level exam or Brevet d’Etudes du Premier Cycle: BEPC, and for students to pass senior high school, they must pass the A-level exam or Baccalauréat: BAC, which is the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma.
  2. Education in Benin follows a numbered grading system. Similar to the letter-grading system, the number grading system ranges from 10 to 20 to determine a student’s level of classroom production. Averaging a 10 is good enough for a passing grade, 12 is a fairly good grade, 14-15 is a good grade, 16-17 is a very good grade and to score a 20 is excellent.
  3. Statistics of education in Benin demonstrate uneven gender enrollment, with the gross primary enrollment rate for boys at 88.4 percent opposed to 55.7 percent for girls, according to a survey conducted in 1996. Male students also maintain a better literacy rate between the ages of 15 and 24, with a 54.9 percent literacy rate, compared to female students who have a literacy rate of just 30.8 percent. The gap between male and female literacy rates worsens out of school, with the overall adult literacy at 40 percent, while only 25 percent of women are literate. Benin also ranks 35th out of 117 countries for having the most girls out of school, with 142,178 females not enrolled in primary or secondary school.
  4. State funding is the primary funding for education in Benin, and yet Benin saw a decline of the national budget towards educational spending between 1993 and 1999 when the percent of the national budget used for education dropped from 21.5 percent to 15.6 percent. However, during that same time span, primary education rose within the education budget from comprising 53 percent in 1993 to 60 percent in 1998.
  5. Education in Benin has also evolved into a variety of educational reforms. One of the earliest reforms took place in 1975 and was named a “new school” system, in hopes to democratize education, add more practical subjects to the curriculum and adapt to local conditions. Although the reform was beneficial for the first couple of years, the new school system reform was impacted by national and social crisis near the end of the 1980s that recorded a dropout rate of 31 percent in 1988 and 1989. Seven years later in 1996, the Government of Benin reconstructed the declaration on population policy. The impact of the revival of the national constitution was intended to support priorities in education, including progressively free-of-charge access to education, guaranteed equal opportunity for all and the fight against dropping out, especially for girls.

With all this said, education in Benin still faces an array of issues such as providing equal opportunity for education to women. Benin has made dramatic attempts to assure educational equality for all and needs to continue to put programs in place to ensure the future success of their educational system.

– Patrick Greeley

Photo: Flickr

, ,

10 Facts About Hunger in Benin

Hunger in Benin
Benin is a French-speaking nation in Western Africa that formed in 1960. The country has one of the most stable democracies in the entire continent of Africa. However, it is also one of the poorest and most severely undernourished nations both in Africa and in the world. To better understand the nation and how hunger impacts it, here are 10 facts about hunger in Benin.

10 Facts About Hunger in Benin

  1. In Benin, 11 percent of citizens do not have reliable access to nutritious food, while 34 percent have limited or poor food consumption.
  2. Out of the children in Benin aged six months to 59 months, 32 percent suffer from chronic malnutrition. Consequently, UNICEF states that “Undernutrition puts children at greater risk of dying from common infections, increases the frequency and severity of such infections and contributes to delayed recovery.” It can also lead to stunted growth and reduced performance in school.
  3. Benin ranks 21st out of 45 nations on the Hunger and Nutrition Commitment Index. This is an index that measures developing countries with alarming undernutrition rates on their commitment to addressing hunger through policy, spending and law.
  4. Nearly 10 million people in Benin survive on subsistence farming and are dependent on a stable climate to sustain their crops.
  5. The NGO Hunger Free World has begun leadership training called YEH in Benin. Thus, Benin citizens can learn about the importance of agriculture and how to engage with their communities.
  6. In 2011, Benin joined the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement. This is a movement designed to engage countries in the process of eradicating malnutrition and track their progress. Since then, substantial gains have been made towards reducing hunger in Benin. As of the end of 2016, Benin was halfway to meeting all of the SUN’s strategic goals.
  7. Benin’s former President, Thomas Boni Yayi, implemented The Strategic Plan for Food and Nutrition Development (PSDAN). The document aims to “[make] Benin a country where every individual has a satisfactory nutritional status.”
  8. Benin is part of the McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program. This program works to both reduce hunger and improve education by providing meals in Benin schools.
  9. In order to improve the agricultural outlook of Benin’s citizens and reduce the overall hunger in Benin, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations developed an Integrated Production and Pest Management Programme (IPPM Program). The IPPM is therefore working on “developing local farming capacity, improving food security and livelihoods and raising awareness.”
  10. The World Health Organization created an interactive tool to help visualize the strides Benin must take to continue improving nutrition.

The problems of malnutrition and hunger in Benin affect millions of its citizens every day. However, Benin is proving to be a resilient nation, as the country’s policymakers are committed to progress. They are also willing to work with international allies to step into a world of better nutrition for all.

– Adesuwa Agbonile

Photo: Flickr