In Benin, local government plans are being realised with a grant from the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility, making it easier and safer for herders from the Fulani ethnic group to tend to their cattle as well as enabling farmers to irrigate vegetable gardens in this climate-impacted region, which is no stranger to conflict over limited resources.

Before the project to construct a dam and bridge in Siénou (Cobly district), in the far north-west of Benin, crops would fail and people regularly drown trying to cross the river, which would swell during the rainy season but run dry for much of the year. Herders would have no choice but to walk their cattle to neighbouring Togo for water.

Following a series of consultations with villagers, technical teams from LG and state administrations with LoCAL technical support identified a series of adaptation actions and investments in this arid Sahel region of West Africa battling with the impacts of climate change. In recent years, pastoral and agricultural communities that have co-existed for centuries have increasingly come into conflict over access to land and water, leading to thousands of deaths in West Africa. The investments are a lifeline and source of hope for communities that are struggling with prolonged periods of drought punctured by unpredictable rains that can be violently intense, making farming difficult as well as damaging homes and the region’s limited infrastructure.

Others remarked in meetings that when the rains do fall, they are unevenly distributed. Areas receiving rainfall, are often inundated or are accompanied by strong winds that destroy traditional mud-hut homes.

The communities and LGs of the region have, with access to LoCAL’s innovative system of Performance Based Climate Resilience Grants, developed plans of investment that include infrastructures to channel and retain water for animals and irrigated agriculture.

It is hoped that with better water capture, trees will also be able to regenerate and provide a natural barrier to the strong winds that are able to whistle across the open plains.

As well as directing the initial planning stage of the project, the communities and LGs were involved through the construction and implementation phase, with regular monitorings and briefings through elected local officials.

“In a region where communities are increasingly competing over limited land and water resources, it was very important that all parties felt invested in the project,” said Cossoba Nanako, UNCDF Country Officer in Benin.

Moussa Bouba’s story:

“I am a Fulani. I only live from the fruits of my animals. Grazing space is shrinking every year due to the expansion of arable land. There are repeated conflicts with producers especially in the dry season which is becoming longer and longer due to climate change. On top of that, watering my animals is also a problem. I used to have to go to Togo, more than 25 km from the Fulani camp, to water my animals.

"We doubly benefit from this project. Before, we used to build a makeshift bridge ourselves with wood that rotted in the water every year and caused a number of drownings. With the river rising in August and September, only some of the older men who know how to swim managed to cross the river. Likewise, the dam will allow our cattle to drink at any time, especially in the dry season. So, we save time and energy!”.