At the beginning of June, the stakeholders of the project "A bioclimatic construction sector for youth employment in Benin ’’ gathered in Cotonou on the occasion of the restitution workshop, with the aim of presenting the results obtained as well as the perspectives of the project.

Started in December 2019 and ending this summer, co-financed by the European Union, the project has notably contributed to strengthen the economic integration of young people in 8 districts of Atacora and Donga during the off-season period.

The results are conclusive:
– 326 young people were trained, on construction sites and in academies,
– 82 young people were supported in entrepreneurship and self-employment
– 144,000 people were made aware of the NV concept
– 170 projects were carried out through financial incentives for eco-construction
– 8 operator partners were involved in the smooth running of the project
– more than 100 stakeholders were sensitized

• Download project report (french)

Even if there is still a long way to go to register widely and sustainably the NV eco-construction sector in Benin, the prospects for development are encouraging, with in particular the implementation of the SERI (AFD financing) and ACACIAS (FFEM/PNUD financing) projects planned for the next few years.

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Other articles previously published on the project:
– Benin: the second prize-giving event for the most beautiful NV
– AVN/AVIGREF-P:a strong partnership for adapted habitat in Benin
– EU Project in Benin: results and perspectives from the first year
– A bioclimatic construction sector for the youth of northern Benin

On April 28, 2023, the AVN Benin team had the honor of receiving in its offices in Djougou the French Ambassador to Benin, Mr. Marc VIZY, and the Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Benin Mr. Jérôme Bertrand HARDY, accompanied by the local authorities including the prefect of the department of Donga, the Mayor of the commune of Djougou and the Departmental Director of the Republican Police.

Various topics were discussed, including the presentation of the catalogue of AVN proposals, the AVN-AFD Program Agreement having started in November 2022, the Building Energy Efficiency Plan (PEEB) drawn up by the AFD Energy Department, the ACACIAS project, the organisation of a workshop marking the end of the EuropeAid project in June and the ambitions of AVN in Benin.

The visit to a NV site under construction enabled the delegation to meet the learners and their trainer.

As part of a synergy being established with the programme of the Cross-Border Biosphere Reserve of the W-Arly-Pendjari region (RBT-WAP), the AVN-Benin team organized an on-site visit with partner NGOs of the Reserve, followed by a working session.

The visit of 5 NV buildings (housing, livestock and traditional ceremonial buildings of the Natimba people called "Tata Vaults") and the meeting with NV market stakeholders (NV clients and masons) allowed participants to learn more about the NV technique and its advantages, and to be reassured about the cost savings compared to other construction methods.

The reflection on possible partnerships is in progress. An NGO (Espace Vert) has already expressed its interest in the choice of NV in their construction projects in the municipality of Kèrou. RBT-WAP supports this approach and remains convinced of the relevant responses (adapted buildings, training and green jobs, rural development) provided by the AVN programme to solve the problems faced by populations living on the outskirts of the parks.

As part of the project for development of a bio-climatic construction sector for youth employment in North Benin, co-financed by the EU, AVN and the Union Communale des Coopératives des Producteurs d’Anacarde (UCCPA) of Ouaké organised, for the second year running, a competition for the « the most beautiful NV ». This competition aims to motivate NV clients to perfect the finishes of their NV buildings.

The prize-giving ceremony took place in March at the Mairie of Ouaké : three NVs built this season in Djougou were selected by the jury, drawn from AVN, the UCCPA, and the Mairie of Ouaké. The prizes, mainly food products, were awarded to the winners in the presence of members of local authorities and organisations.

At the beginning of February, Narcisse Sare Ali, AVN National Benin Coordinator, was invited to the 18th General Assembly of AVIGREF-P - Operational Partner for the implementation of the project ‘A bioclimatic construction sector for youth employment in the North of Benin’, financed by the European Union.

At this event, AVN briefed the members of the 32 AVIGREF branches present on its programme of promotion of adapted construction in Benin, in particular through this EU project. The considerable progress made in the three Implementation Units (muncipalities) of AVIGREF was highlighted, as well as the difficulties encountered and the means of overcoming them.

Accordingly, the AVIGREF branches agreed to get involved in the project and motivate the young people in their communities to take an interesst in joining the AVN training programme, and encourage local families to benefit from the incentives for NV construction.

AVN is delighted with this strong and durable partnership and the rapidly growing benefits which should accrue to the communities involved.

Since December 2019, AVN and its Operational Partners - l’Union des Associations Villageoises de Gestion des Réserves de Faune (AVIGREF) and the Union Communale des Coopératives de Producteurs d’Anacarde (UCCPA) - have received financial support from the European Union for implementation of a project promoting a bioclimatic construction sector and youth employment in the north of Benin, involving eight Implementation Units in the Departments of Atacora and Donga.

During the first year of operation (the 2019/2020 season):

• 121 youngsters have undergone training on 27 construction sites, including 13 technical and entrepreneurial training modules;
• 14 clients have benefited from financial incentives for construction of their own NV houses;
• partnerships have been formalised between AVN and 2 Operational Partners in Implementation Territories (OP-IT) et 5 Operational partners in Implementation Units (OP-IU);
• 14 focal and subsidiary points have benefited from skills upgrading.

Two ceremonies have been organised in the communes of Ouaké (department of Donga) and Tanguiéta (department of Atacora) for the official launch of the project, bringing together local authorities and development agencies (read the news).

The second year of the project (the 2020/2021 season) started last September wit the organisation of training academies for focal and subsidiary points, and awareness raising to mobilise local masons to join and continue with NV training activities. During this second year of implementation, we plan for:

• 37 training construction sites;
• 67 training modules Reinforcement on Building site – First Clients (RB-FC)* ;
• 27 technical and entrepreneurial training modules;
• distribution of 80 Client Incentive Coupons** (CIC) to villagers for construction of their NV buildings;
• additional support for 36 clients through Wanani promotions.

In addition, a competition for the « most beautiful NV » will be organised to recompense clients who have kept their buildings in excellent condition, and to encourage others to follow their example.

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*RB-FC : The training modules "Reinforcement on Building site – First Clients" help masons who want to become artisans to take responsibility for their first construction sites whilst being accompanied by a Trainer Mason, allowing for combined training on technical issues, working with clients, and team management.
*CIC : these printed and numbered coupons are given to masons by AVN or its Operational Partners. Each incentive coupon corresponds to a maximum of 15 % of the total cost of the building, but nevertheless represents an important proportion of the cash needed to pay the specialist labour costs.

Ceremonies to launch the project for a bioclimatic construction sector to provide jobs for the youth of northern Benin were launched on June 18-23 this year.

The first ceremony was held at the Mairie of Ouaké, in the presence of the Mayor, M. Dramane Ouolou, representatives of the Coopératives Villageoises de Producteurs d’Anacarde (CVPA), operational partners of the project from Ouaké and Sèmèrè I, members of the Union Communale des Coopératives de Producteurs d’Anacarde (UCCPA) of Ouaké, of AVN’s national office in Benin and of civil society organisations from Ouaké.

The second ceremony was held in Tanguiéta in the presence of the Mayor, M. Zakari Boukary, and various partners.

Co-financed by the European Union for a period of 3 years, this project supports the implementation of a programme of bioclimatic housing organised by AVN and its parters in Benin, involving professional training, job creation, climate mitigation and adaptation, environmental protection and the strengthening of local economies.

This project will train young apprentices during the dry season to become Nubian Vault masons, thanks to a dual programme open to all without any academic prerequisites, combining on-site experience with support to become entrepreneurs and join the local and regional construction sector. The NV technique relies heavily on local labour and low-carbon construction materials, and is implemented in collaboration with local partners, thus guaranteeing long-term growth in the number of active masons able to earn additional revenue between the two active agricultural seasons.

This event was also an opportunity to present the scope of the project and the results of its first year of operation.