Benin Country Programme (2015-2018)

A least-developed country prone to natural disasters where a third of the population lives in poverty and 23 percent have inadequate food consumption, Benin ranks 165th of 187 countries on the Human Development Index. A third of children under 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition, with irreversible effects in education and adult life. School enrolment is high, but there are significant regional disparities and a high dropout rate.

WFP plans to use a multi-sector approach to enhance the capacities of the Government to manage its own school feeding programme based on local production. Support for local governments will help to improve responses to future shocks. Nutrition support will be provided for children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women.

Country programme 200721 will focus on nutrition and food assistance for assets in the vulnerable Karimama and Malanville districts in line with the 2014–2018 United Nations Development Assistance Framework. The first year of the programme will focus on planning, the second and third on food assistance for assets.

The country programme reflects consultations with partners and is in line with the National Poverty Reduction Strategy, WFP’s Strategic Objectives 3 and 4, and Millennium Development Goals 1, 2, 3 and 4.