BENIN WATER!

Benin, a country of 13 million inhabitants, the majority of whom live in rural areas (56%), is among the least economically developed countries. It ranks 158th out of 189 countries according to the 2019 United Nations Human Development Index. Access to basic services remains a concern, and overall poverty is decreasing only slightly despite growth, largely due to poor wealth redistribution, embezzlement, and the size of the informal sector. Furthermore, while infrastructure is developing in urban centers, areas on the outskirts of cities and rural areas are often neglected.

The rural village of Agolèdji, located in southern Benin in the Abomey-Calavi region of the Zinvié district, is severely affected by these problems. The village's main activities are agriculture and livestock farming, and access to water is a critical issue. Its only infrastructure consists of a dilapidated well that supplies water to the entire village and a primary school with 242 students.

The Benin Water Project, led by the PC Coup d'Pouce association and implemented in collaboration with the local association Terre d'Espoir (ATE), involves rehabilitating two boreholes previously equipped with hand pumps. A water tower, equipped with a pump and photovoltaic panels, will be installed near each borehole. By improving access to water, the project aims to improve the long-term socio-economic situation of families in Agolèdji. By freeing women from the time spent at the well, they will be able to develop income-generating activities, enabling them and their families to achieve greater financial independence. Children, less burdened with helping at the well or contributing financially to their families through early work, will be able to attend school more often.