The World Bank has approved financing of 240 million United States dollars to support coastal resilience and blue economy development in Benin and Mauritania, marking the first phase of the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience and Blue Economy Programme. The initiative forms part of a broader regional effort to address environmental vulnerability while strengthening economic opportunities along West Africa’s coastline.
According to a statement released by the World Bank, the programme is designed to respond to escalating coastal erosion, flooding, and climate related risks affecting communities and infrastructure across the region. Coastal zones in West Africa are home to more than 360 million people and are central to economic activity, including fisheries, tourism, aquaculture, and maritime trade. However, these areas are increasingly exposed to environmental degradation and climate variability, which continue to undermine livelihoods and long term development prospects.
In Benin, the financing will support stabilisation efforts at the Bouche du Roy estuary and the mouth of the Mono River. These interventions are expected to protect residential areas, agricultural land, tourism sites, and transport corridors that are essential to both local and national economies. In Mauritania, the programme will reinforce the dune barrier protecting Nouakchott, where flood risks pose a growing threat to densely populated urban areas and key economic assets.
Beyond infrastructure protection, the initiative incorporates ecosystem based approaches to resilience. Plans include the restoration of up to 3000 hectares of mangroves and coastal wetlands across both countries. Such ecosystems are widely recognised for their role in buffering storm surges, supporting fisheries, and sustaining biodiversity. Their restoration is also expected to contribute to expanding opportunities in aquaculture and ecotourism, sectors that are increasingly viewed as pathways for inclusive economic growth across coastal Africa.
The programme aligns with the World Bank’s broader engagement in the region through the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Programme, which seeks to promote coordinated regional responses to shared coastal challenges. By integrating environmental protection with economic development, WACA plus reflects a growing recognition among African institutions and partners that resilience and growth are interconnected rather than competing priorities.
While the funding represents a significant investment, its longer term impact will depend on implementation, local participation, and sustained cooperation between national governments, regional bodies, and coastal communities. The programme’s emphasis on job creation and value chain development suggests an intention to move beyond protection alone, towards enabling coastal populations to shape and benefit from evolving blue economies.
Across the continent, similar initiatives are gaining traction as countries confront the realities of climate change and environmental stress. In this context, the Benin and Mauritania projects may offer insights into how African led approaches to coastal management can balance ecological stewardship with socio economic development, while centring the experiences and priorities of affected communities.
