The representation of the World Bank in Benin has initiated a mission of discovery and exchange for young people committed to development. This 4-day mission was launched on Monday, April 11, 2022 with the objective of allowing participants to touch some achievements of the institution in Benin.

Félicienne HOUESSOU

The top is given for four days of discovery and exchanges on a dozen projects implemented with the technical and financial support of the World Bank in Benin. The first day was marked by a visit to a fruit juice processing plant. Al Fanni Sarl is a fruit juice processing, training and marketing company created in 2008 by Aminatou Bagoudou, with the processing of 20 pineapples. Today, thanks to the support of the World Bank and other partners, Al Fanni Sarl processes up to one ton of juice per day. With an annual turnover estimated at about 30 million CFA francs, it employs a team of twelve young people dominated by women.

This first day ended with a visit to the classified forest of Dan, a district of the commune of Djidja. With an area of 530 hectares, this space was completely degraded. According to Joseph Zimazi, coordinator of the technical cell of forest management and classified forest, 10 years ago, there was no more forest because the population destroyed everything for the production of charcoal and for food crops. With the "Classified Forest" project, which was launched in 2020, 681 hectares have already been reforested. This project, financed by the World Bank, has opted for participatory management with the association of the population. In other words, several indirect jobs have been created in addition to the protection of this forest, from production to maintenance and security of the area.