A $240 million funding package has been approved by the World Bank to support Benin and Mauritania in tackling coastal erosion and flooding while unlocking ocean-based economic opportunities.
This financing represents the first phase of the West Africa Coastal Areas Blue Economy and Resilience Programme (WACA+), a regional effort focused on helping countries cope with rising sea levels, rehabilitate ecosystems, and generate employment in areas like fisheries, tourism, and coastal transport.
Coastal regions remain some of the most productive economic zones in West Africa, contributing significantly to output and sustaining millions of livelihoods.
However, prolonged erosion, flooding, and environmental damage, intensified by climate change, have put homes, infrastructure, and fishing areas at risk across the region.
Research has shown that the economic impact of coastal degradation runs into billions of dollars annually for West African countries.
Protecting major cities and economic assets
As part of the initiative, Benin will receive assistance to secure the Bouche du Roy estuary and the Mono River mouth, both vital for tourism, transportation, and agriculture.
In Mauritania, resources will be directed toward strengthening the dune barrier that protects the capital, Nouakchott, from storm surges and flooding.
The programme also plans to rehabilitate up to 3,000 hectares of mangroves and coastal wetlands, which act as natural defenses against flooding while supporting marine life and biodiversity.
The World Bank’s Regional Director, Chakib Jenane, noted that the project is designed to support communities already experiencing the impacts of climate change.
He explained that coastal populations in West Africa are highly exposed to climate risks and that the initiative will help shield more than 500,000 people from erosion and flooding.
Jobs and private investment at the centre
In addition to infrastructure and environmental recovery, WACA+ places strong emphasis on attracting private investment and creating employment opportunities.
The programme will offer technical support, skills training, and financing options for micro, small, and medium enterprises operating in coastal sectors such as fish processing, aquaculture, ecotourism, and maritime services.
By 2031, over 31,000 individuals are expected to benefit from training and enterprise support, while the first phase alone could generate around 13,000 jobs in Benin and Mauritania.
In Mauritania, the initiative includes a partial credit guarantee scheme aimed at unlocking up to $20 million in financing for fish-processing businesses, addressing a major constraint faced by entrepreneurs—limited access to capital.
Building on earlier regional efforts
The new programme builds on the earlier West Africa Coastal Areas Management Programme, launched in 2018 to coordinate responses to coastal erosion and flooding across multiple countries.
That earlier effort supported projects such as seawall construction, beach restoration, and mangrove rehabilitation, helping to stabilise vulnerable shorelines and protect communities.
WACA+ is expected to expand these interventions while placing greater focus on economic growth through the blue economy.
According to the World Bank, future phases of WACA+ will extend to more countries, with the potential to create over 50,000 jobs and enhance climate resilience for hundreds of thousands of people living along the coast.