2024-04-07 23:25:42
Visits: 32
What you should know: The French Embassy in Benin launched last Thursday, April 4, the 2nd edition of the “Women and Environment” program aimed at supporting initiatives in favor of environmental protection, carried out or directed towards women. In the gardens of the French residence, where the projects implemented during the first edition are exhibited in images, the French ambassador to Benin, Marc Vizy affirmed that the program impacted 12,000 beneficiaries in 2023 and plans to reach more than 20,000 beneficiaries in 2024. In fact, the projects carried out by civil society and supported by the French Embassy, as part of this program, are, among other things, linked to awareness-raising and the implementation of selective sorting in educational establishments; the use of energy sources that are more respectful of the environment and come from waste recovery, palm nut shells, water hyacinths; the creation of biogas, but also the promotion of more ecological and sustainable agricultural practices. Thus, lasting 2 years, this program supports 31 associations with projects implemented throughout the Beninese territory by locally anchored associations. The “Women and Environment” program responds to very concrete challenges around three themes including the circular economy, the preservation of biodiversity and sustainable land management.
What do they say : During the launch ceremony of this second edition, the French Ambassador praised the commitment of civil society actors in the “Women and environment” program. For him, the program is carried out with the technical support of the House of Civil Society. He did not fail to welcome the new collaboration with the Ministry of Living Environment and Sustainable Development, particularly the General Directorate of Water, Forests and Hunting, through the organization of biodiversity workshops in 4 towns in Benin in November. 2023. The Ambassador finally congratulated all the associations selected as part of the “Women and environment” program and wished them every success in the implementation of their projects for 2024. Thus, the first edition of the “Women and environment” program made it possible to carry out several actions in favor of women. According to the director of the NGO Ola Africa, Nadia El Hadj Boueye, thanks to this program, the capacities of peasant women in the commune of Ouaké have been strengthened for agricultural practices with adaptation to climate change. The NGO Ola Africa also offered agricultural equipment to women to facilitate their activities. As for the NGO SOS Savane de Tanguiéta, it is carrying out a project aimed at restoring the banks of the different tributaries of the Pendjari river; of the Atacora mountain range and also to develop the community by helping women to have more income. “We will firstly, with local authorities and water and forestry agents, make a choice of local forest species and fast-growing species. We will work with women while informing them about the different texts and laws that govern the conservation of natural resources in Benin,” explained Florence Kombieni, project manager at the NGO SOS Savane de Tanguiéta.
Between the lines : It should be noted that the “women and environment” program embodies France’s strong ambitions in climate and environmental matters, but also its commitment alongside the Beninese government and civil society actors to promote equality between women and men, through its feminist diplomacy.
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