Benin
Together against hunger and poverty in Benin
Despite visible progress, overcoming hunger and extreme poverty in Benin remains an enormous challenge. Nearly half of the population lives in poverty, many children suffer from malnutrition, and only a small proportion of people have access to electricity or clean water.
Through targeted projects in agriculture, education, and entrepreneurship, we empower women and young people in particular to sustainably overcome hunger and poverty.
Facts about Benin
14,8 million inhabitants
70 % of people depend on agriculture for their livelihoods
(UN World Food Programme, 2024/25)
40 % of the population lives below the poverty line
Progress and Challenges in Benin
In recent years, Benin has made significant progress. Today, the country is considered an example of democratic stability and economic growth in West Africa. Investments in infrastructure, energy, and digital technologies are creating new opportunities – especially for the younger generation.
Yet despite these positive developments, far too many people continue to live in poverty and hunger.
Since the majority of the population in rural areas depends on agriculture, the growing impacts of the climate crisis are hitting these communities hard: Recurring droughts, frequent flooding, and unstable harvests threaten both food security and livelihoods.
The consequences are severe: one third of all children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition, and 8% die before reaching their fifth birthday (Global Hunger Index 2024).
- 83 % of households cannot afford a healthy diet
- Only 57 % of the population has access to electricity
- Just 3 % of the population has access to safe sanitation facilities
(World Bank 2023)
Women at the forefront of change
Women in Benin are disproportionately affected. Social and structural inequalities significantly limit their access to land, education, and other resources. As a result, they are often unable to generate their own income.
This is exactly where The Hunger Project’s work begins:
Our programs specifically empower women and young people, foster self-initiative, and create sustainable opportunities. Together with local partners, we develop projects that strengthen communities from within – enabling greater self-determination, education, and economic independence.
Our projects against hunger and poverty in Benin
Shea butter project in northern Benin
In Benin, shea butter is often referred to as “women’s gold.” Its processing lies almost entirely in the hands of women and represents one of the few income sources with significant economic potential. In shea-producing regions, shea butter contributes between 40% and 50% of household income.
In the districts of Fô-Bouré and Gamia, we accompany a total of 240 young women aged 18 to 35 on their path toward self-determination and economic independence. The focus is on empowering young farmers who collect shea nuts and process them into high-quality shea butter.
Participants receive hands-on training in modern, environmentally friendly processing techniques, as well as access to modern production facilities and equipment. This enables a significant increase in both yield and product quality.
At the same time, the project supports the formation of self-organized women’s groups to strengthen knowledge sharing, use resources efficiently, and reduce costs. As organized producers, the women also gain stronger negotiating power with buyers. In addition, the project supports the development of sustainable value chains, from harvesting to sales, including secure markets and reliable buyers.
This creates stable incomes – for the women, their families, and the entire region.
Both projects address the following core focus areas of our work:
- Empowering Women:Through targeted training and the creation of cooperative structures, women strengthen their self-reliance and improve their living conditions and those of their families.
- Building a sustainable business ecosystem: Through partnerships along the value chain, cooperation with companies and microfinance institutions, the conditions for long-term success are created.
- Promoting environmentally sustainable agriculture: Modern production methods increase productivity and quality while protecting natural resources, such as the shea trees.
The projects have a wide-ranging impact: women earn a reliable income, invest in their children’s education and health, and strengthen the local economy through their entrepreneurial activities. A total of 6,800 people benefit from this project, including the household members of shea producers and traders, other women farmers, community leaders, local authorities, transport companies, and microfinance institutions.
The women in Fô-Bouré and Gamia demonstrate that sustainable change begins with unlocking one’s own potential.
Market Gardening Project
In northern Benin, in the district of Bouanri, many young women struggle daily for survival.
For them, vegetable farming is often the only opportunity to earn an income and support their families. However, they face numerous challenges: limited access to suitable land and water, expensive agricultural inputs, lack of training, and poor storage and market access.
The most affected are disadvantaged young women – including single mothers, widows, orphans, and survivors of violence. Their situation urgently requires targeted support to provide new opportunities and hope for a better future.
Our market gardening project addresses exactly these challenges. It enables 180 women aged 18 to 35 to build their own income through vegetable farming.
Participants gain access to irrigated farmland, high-quality seeds, and hands-on training in sustainable vegetable production. We also strengthen their entrepreneurial skills and create reliable market access so they can successfully sell their products locally. This creates long-term income opportunities that empower not only the women themselves, but also their families and communities.
Around 15,000 people benefit directly or indirectly from this project. Above all, the young women gain hope, confidence, and economic independence – and with that, the opportunity for a better future.
Entrepreneurship-Program
Benin’s young population is highly motivated and full of potential, yet many lack access to employment or opportunities to use their skills.
Through our entrepreneurship program in the districts of Tré and Paouingnan, we strengthen young people’s innovation capacity to sustainably overcome hunger and poverty. From 2023 to 2026, we support 2,500 young farmers and 200 young people receiving training in future-oriented sectors such as solar energy and skilled trades. They gain access to digital advisory platforms, financing, and markets.
Together with local partners, we strengthen their productivity, innovation capacity, and resilience. More than 25,000 people across 22 villages benefit directly or indirectly from this program.
Benin’s youth hold the power to drive change for future generations. Together, we help unlock this potential and create new opportunities for young people and their communities.
Your support makes a difference
With your donation, you help people in Benin sustainably overcome hunger and extreme poverty. Every contribution gives families hope, dignity, and the opportunity for a better future.