Strengthening the Resilience of Vulnerable Family Farms to Climate Project/Programme title: Change in the Fourth Agricultural Development Pole in Country(ies): Benin National Designated Ministry of Living Environment and Sustainable Development Authority(ies) (NDA): Accredited Entity(ies) (AE): Fonds National pour L'Environnement

Date of first submission: 9/18/2020 V.1

Date of current submission: 9/18/2020 V.1

Version 1 A. Project / Programme Summary (max. 1 page)

☒ Project ☒ Public sector A.2. Public or A.1. Project or programme A.3 RFP Not applicable private sector ☐ Programme ☐ Private sector

Mitigation: Reduced emissions from: ☐ Energy access and power generation: 0% ☐ Low emission transport: 0% ☐ Buildings, cities and industries and appliances: 0% A.4. Indicate the result ☐ Forestry and land use: 0% areas for the project/programme Adaptation: Increased resilience of: ☒ Most vulnerable people and communities: 33.33% ☒ Health and well-being, and food and water security: 33.33% ☐ Infrastructure and built environment: 0% ☒ Ecosystem and ecosystem services: 33.34%

A.5.1. Estimated mitigation impact

(tCO2eq over project lifespan) A.5.2. Estimated adaptation impact 149,000 direct beneficiaries (number of direct beneficiaries) A.5. Impact potential A.5.3. Estimated adaptation impact 894,000 indirect beneficiaries (number of indirect beneficiaries) A.5.4. Estimated adaptation impact 5.6% of the country’s total population (% of total population)

A.6. Financing information

A.6.1. Indicative GCF funding requested (max Amount: 9,944,942 Currency: USD Financial Instrument: Grants 10M)

Amount: 1,205,001 Currency: USD Financial Instrument: Grants A.6.2. Indicative co-financing Institution: MAEP AND FNEC

A.6.3. Indicative total project Amount: 11,149,943 Currency: USD cost (GCF + co-finance)

disbursement A.7. Implementation period: 60 A.7.2. Total project/ Programme 20 period: repayment period, if lifespan applicable: A.8. Is funding from the A.9. Is the Environmental and ☐ Yes ☒ Yes Project Preparation Social Safeguards Category C or ☒ No No Facility needed? I-3? ☐ 1- Project interventions will consist in the implementation of water and A.10. Provide rationale for soil conservation measures, the promotion of alternative farming systems to the ESS categorization slash-and-burn shifting cultivation and the setting up of an effective (100 words) mechanism for integrating adaptation monitoring and evaluation in the national agricultural extension system. Thus, the activities will not have Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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significant negative impacts on the environment, and will not require any land expropriation or land grabbing, population displacement and/or reallocation of ownership rights of the local populations on lands and natural resources. All activities of the project will be carried out in strict compliance with local and national legislation and property rights. The landscape approach that takes into account rural land plans will be the basis of the implementation of the project to A.11. Has the CN been ☒ Yes ☐ Confidential A.12. Confidentiality shared with the NDA? ☐ No ☒ Not confidential A.13. Executing Entity The Ministere de l'Agriculture, de l'Elevage et de la Peche (MAEP), GIZ, information Territorial Agricultural Development Agency (ATDA4 3- Benin is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The effects of the global warming are already perceptive across the country in terms of temperature increase, rainfall decrease and in several areas and poor rainfall distribution at national level, the shortening of the rainy season A.14. Project/Programme duration, as well as more recurrent and severe drought periods. The rationale, objectives and proposed project aims at supporting adaptation actions in the agricultural approach of programme/project (max sector in the fourth agricultural development pole (PDA4) of Benin. The 100 words) project is structured into three main components: i) large-scale promotion of alternative and climate-resilient agricultural technologies, ii) implementation of sustainable yam-based farming system as alternative for slash-and-burn shifting yam cropping , and iii) mainstreaming climate change adaptation in the national agricultural extension and monitoring & evaluation systems B. Project / Programme information B.1. Context and Baseline (500 words) Biophysical impacts of climate change in Benin: 4.Benin is highly vulnerable to climate change due to the high natural variability of its climate, the heavy dependence of the economy on rainfed agriculture, the low diversification of the economy and its weak capacity to adapt and to cope with the negative impacts of climate change. The consequences of global warming are reflected throughout the country by an increase in temperatures of 1°C between 1950 and 2005[1], a poor distribution and, in several regions, a decrease in rainfall of up to 275 mm3. Furthermore, shortening of rainy season duration and an increase in the frequency of more severe droughts have been observed[2],[3],[4],[5]. With a global temperature increase of 1.5°C in the future[6], the country is expected to experience more severe and unpredictable weather disturbances. Forecasts indicate an increase in local temperatures of around 2 to 4.5°C by 21009 and highly uncertain seasonal rainfall4,[7] with an increase in the number of years with a shortfall in precipitation4. More downscaled and near-future projections (2025-2050) show temperature increases in most months of the year[8], while rainfall patterns in terms of the number of consecutive wet days, heavy rainfall and annual wet-days rainfall total are expected to decline significantly[9]. The temperature increase is also expected to be larger in the dry seasons, implying that localities already suffering from drought and drying climate may face even bigger challenges in the future11. Extreme events such as floods, droughts and excessive heat waves will also become more frequent and intense in Benin[10]. Studies have shown that in the absence of adaptation measures, climate change will lead to a significant loss of arable land[11] due to extreme temperatures, excessive rainfall, and degradation of topography and soil quality[12]. Specifically, forecasts predict a decrease in prime quality farmland with high agricultural potential, an increase of hydromorphic and water-stress and an expansion of soils with severe climatic or topographic constraints[13]. By reducing rainfall and Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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increasing temperatures, it is also expected that climate change will negatively impact water availability, and therefore increase water stress and conflicts for water and land control9.

Socio economic impacts: 5.The physical changes described above will strongly impact economic and social systems and increase the vulnerability of populations, whose living conditions are already precarious. Benin's economy relies mainly on rainfed agriculture[14]. The agricultural sector employs more than 70% of the working population (3,853,368 persons, whereas women with poor access to formal education are responsible for 60-80% of agricultural work), and contributes with 28,3% to the GDP[15]. It provides more than 75% of export revenue and accounts for 15% of national revenue17. This heavy dependence on the rainfed agriculture makes the country particularly vulnerable to climate disturbances. Agricultural production will be seriously compromised by high risks of droughts, soil aridity, excessive heat, and reductions and/or poor distribution of rainfall. Estimations suggest that drought-prone crops such as cereals and tubers will be strongly affected by drought and water-deficit due to insufficient rainfalls and dry spells in near future9,[16],[17], while these crops play a major role in the food and nutrition security of the population of Benin. A drop in yam yields of around 33-48% is predicted between 2040-2050, especially in the Fourth Agricultural Development Pole (PDA4[18]) and the upper Ouémé Valley18. Climate change may also induce a considerable decline in cereal yields (, , sorghum) up to 17% and 30% respectively by 2050[19] and 20803,18. Studies carried out in PAD4 also projected resources diversion from water-sensitive food crops (maize, yam or ) in the benefinit of less water-demanding crops such as cotton, groundnut and sorghum, which will significantly be expanded over areas currently under maize, yam or cassava cultivation10. This is a serious threat for the food security given the importance of cerals, tubers and roots in sustaining subsitance and food needs of the poor and more vulnerable groups. Further decrease in food production is also expected from the negative effects of global warming on basic agricultural resources namely soil, water and biodiversity[20]. Declining rainfall and/or rising temperatures will negatively affect farm income[21],[22]. Estimates suggest that a 10% increase in temperatures would reduce net farm income by 13%[23]. 6.People's access to food and other basic needs will be indirectly affected by the negative effects of climate change on economic growth, income distribution, and employment21,[24]. Benin could experience a heavy economic loss estimated between 45 and 64% of its agricultural GDP, or about 4- 6% of its GDP, by 2100 due to climate change[25]. Extreme events will also cause significant damage and loss by destroying crops and important assets on which the livelihood of the populations depends, and leading therefore to higher migration and displacement of people8, especially among women and young people who are the main workforce in agricultural production. Future climate disturbances will further negatively impact current crop management techniques/itinerary in rainfed agriculture through changes in sowing dates, more frequent and severe drought periods, shorter rainy seasons2, and the emergence of new crop diseases and pests[26]. For the most vulnerable, such as women and old people who are not able to mobilize rental labor, agricultural work (weeding, plowing, harvesting) will become more difficult with an increase in temperatures, and the emergence of new pests and diseases.

Vulnerability factors and barriers to adaptation: 7.The project will be implemented in the Fourth Agricultural Development Pole (PDA4), located in the central part of Benin. Several main reasons support the choice of this agricultural production zone. PDA4 is ranked among the most climate vulnerable agricultural zone in Benin3 because of local climate conditions, but also because of its ecosystem and the structure of the local economy, which Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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essentially relies on rainfed agriculture. Located in the transition zone between the sub-humid climate and Sudanian/semi-arid climate zones, PDA4 is exposed to the long-term changes and seasonal variability in these two climate systems. The vulnerability study carried out in this area clearly established the level of exposure and high sensitivity of local faminig systems to climate change3. The study showed a significant interannual variability in precipitation with a slightly decreasing trend during the past four decades in PDA4. An interannual variability of the average temperatures (from 27 to 29° C) is also observed with a clear upward tendency. The study emphasized that the municipalities of N'Dali, Pèrèrè and Nikki are the most exposed while those of and are the least exposed to climatic hazards. When the indices of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity are aggregated, the municipalities of Savalou, , Dassa-Zoumè, Glazoué and are the most vulnerable to climate change3. It is projected that the number of years with deficit precipitation will increase in the future in PDA4. The region is affected by several aridity and water-deficit risks such as the shortening of crop seasons, rainfall decrease, erratic rainfall, drought spells, and higher evapotranspiration due to increased temperature, and these risks are expected to further increase in a near future (2050)3. Yam, which is the main staple food crop practiced in PDA4, is particularly vulnerable to climate change including rainfall decrease and dry spells10,18. 8.Farmers in PDA4 face a number of technical barriers that limit their capacity to address the negative impacts of climate change on their livelihoods.The communities depend on rainfed and low- productive subsistence agriculture. Agricultural production is based on small-scale farms who are poorly equipped with little access to improved technologies[27]. Less than 5% of agricultural land is irrigated12, and the use of fertilizers and high-yielding seeds is very limited for staple-food crops12. As a result, extensive and unsustainable agricultural practices still prevail in PDA428. As the largest production basin for several major staple crops consumed in Benin namely yam, roots, and maize, PDA4 plays a critical role in ensuring national food security and food self-sufficiency in Benin. For example, about 70% of yam, which is staple food consumed in both rural and urban areas in Benin, is produced in PDA4. At least 20% of maize production in Benin is produced in PDA428. Crop production in PDA4 is mainly yam-based farming, a slash-and-burn shifting cropping system, which involves rapid and large-scale deforestation for agricultural purposes. These poor agricultural production conditions render the region more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including water-deficit stress as compared to other agricultural development poles. They also represent a serious threat for the remaining limited reserve of forests and other natural ecosystems in Benin, of which a large share is located in PDA4. The region already faces a serious deforestation issue due to agricultural production. According to the UNCCD's land degradation neutrality (LDN) baseline assessment[28], PDA4 is one of the largest agricultural-driven land degradation hotspots in Benin. 9.Farmers in PDA4 faces several barriers that limit their capacity to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change on their livelihoods. The extension system in Benin does not mainstream the use of climate information and services (CIS) nor adaptation advisory service into the national agricultural advisory policy framework. As a result, decentralized agricultural extension services do not provide farmers with relevant climate-related information that could help them to better understand the changing climate conditions in which they operate for better decision-making. Similarly, the promotion of climate-smart agricultural practices such as soil and water conservation technologies, integrated soil fertility management and sustainable land management practices is not mainstreamed in the current agricultural extension system, which still relies on conventional business as usual technical advisory approach that only ensure the promotion/dissemination of chemicals fertilizers, pesticide and high- yielding seeds. Also, access to on-farm irrigation technologies and high-yielding water-stress tolerant seeds is very limited for farmers practicing subsistence staple crop farming, limiting therefore their capacity to adapt for and recover from the impacts of climate change. Given its high agricultural Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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potential and its geographical position, the PDA4 is an area of high immigration flows of agricultural landless workers from both southern and northern parts of the country, and this increases pressure and conflicts over limited resources, and accelerates the deforestation due to land clearing for crop production. These conditions increase the people's vulnerability while limiting their ability to make the required changes to adapt and cope with the impacts of climate change in PDA4. 10. This project intends to address the water-deficit risks such as shorter rainy seaons, dry spells, erratic rainfalls and droughts, which are projected to further hit vulnerable farmers groups in the PDA4. To this end, the project will support the implementation of a set of interventions (see Section B.2) aimed at addressing aforementioned barriers that impede farmers to transit to a more climate-resilient agricultural and food production system in PDA4 in Benin. The impacts of the project will be country- wide as it will signficanty improve supply-side drivers of key staple food commodities, and also bring important sustainable changes in national agricultural system by establishing an enabling institutional and political framework for mainstreaming the use of climate information and services (CIS) and climate change adaptation monitoring and evaluation in the national agricultural extension and advisory system.

Alignment with political priorities and policies:

11.The project aligns with Benin's priorities and policies as follows:

(1) The“Programme d'Action National aux fins d'Adaptation Climatique” (National Action Program on Climate Change Adaptation, PANA) states as one of its main priorities the promotion of climate- resilient farming systems. (2) The “Stratégie de développement à faible intensité de carbone et resilient aux changements climatiques 2016-2025” (Low-carbon and climate change-resilient development strategy) has focused on integrating climate change into sectoral and agricultural sector plans. (3) The “Plan d'Action National sur la Gestion Durable des Terres” (National Action Plan on Sustainable Land Management, PAN-GDT), which has recently been adopted to support interventions aiming at achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) by 2030 through a prioritization of responses aimed at avoiding, reducing and reversing the degradation of soil and natural ecosystems. (4) The “Plan Stratégique de Développement du Secteur Agricole 2017-2025” (Strategic Plan for Agricultural Sector Development, PSDSA) places sustainable agricultural intensification, the fight against land degradation, and adaptation to climate change at the center of the national agricultural development policy. (5) The project is also aligned with the current vision of the government regarding agricultural development and sustainable inclusive growth as reflected in the “Plan d'Action Gouvernemental” (Government Action Plan, PAG), and the “Plan National de Développement” (National Development Plan, PND). (6) The project fits into several other objectives and strategic visions supported by Benin including: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including the Target 15.3 on Land Degradation Neutrality, the 3S (Sustainability, Stability and Security) Initiative in Africa.

12.Further, the project design aims at scaling up the achievements of relevant previous projects in Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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the PDA 4, such as, the Soil Protection and Rehabilitation of Degraded Soil for Food Security (ProSOL), a GIZ-funded project, the Inter-communal Project Supporting Sustainable Land Management and Adaptation to Climate Change in the (PAGDT-C), and the Program for Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin (PIDACC/NB), jointly funded by the GCF, AfDB, EU, GEF and FIP. ProSOL is the largest project on promotion of climate-smart agricultural practices and adaptation to climate change in agricultural sector implemented in Benin during the last ten years. The project has taken stock of various well- established research knowledge in Benin and from other West African countries to set up a number of technological sustainable agricultural packages that can help smallholders' farmers to address the negative impacts of climate change on their livelihoods. During the last five years, ProSOL Project has established various tools, procedures and approach that can help to develop famers' capacity, and to promote and upscale the use of climate-smart agricultural technologies in Benin with a special focus on Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) practices, conservation agriculture (CA) techniques, on-farm soil and water conservation (SWC) practices and sustainable land management (SLM) techniques. PAGDT-C has also acquired relevant knowledge and experience in the promotion of climate resilient agriculture technologies in some communes in the Collines (one of PDA4 departments), this project, implemented by the local authorities, has supported producers to improve the fertility of their soils.. The current project will build on these achievements in order to accomplish enhanced and large-scale impacts.

[1]Awo, M. 2018. Etude relative aux services d'informations météorologiques et climatiques et incidences de la variabilité du climat sur la production de manioc et d'igname et les fluctuations des prix au Bénin. Rapport d'Etude, FAO, Rome, 2018. [2]Akponikpe I., Tovihoudji P., Wabi M., Ahoyo N., Kpadonou E., Fandohan- A., Lokonon B., Yegbemey R., Amegnaglo J., Segnon A., Totin E., Hounsou M., Dossa E., Laourou D., Aho N., 2019. Etude de Vulnérabilité aux changements climatiques du Secteur Agriculture au Bénin. Report produced under the PAS-PNA project. Climate Analytics GmbH, Berlin [3]Thornton PK, Jones PG, Owiyo T, Kruska RL, Herrero M, Kristjanson P, Notenbaert A, Bekele N and Omolo A, with contributions from Orindi V, Otiende B, Ochieng A, Bhadwal S, Anantram K, Nair S, Kumar V and Kulkar U (2006). Mapping climate vulnerability and poverty in Africa. Report to the Department for International Development, ILRI, PO Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya. Pp 171. [4]Kotir, J., 2011: Climate change and variability in SubSaharan Africa: A review of current and future trends and impacts on agriculture and food security. Environ. Dev. Sustain., 13, 587-605. [5] Plan d'action 2019-2023 pour la mise en place du cadre national pour les services climatologiques (CNSC) du Benin [6]IPCC. (2007). Climate change 2007: Impacts, adaptations, and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC. In M. Parry, O. Canziani, J. Palutikof et al. (Eds.), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press [7]Müller, C. (2009). Climate change impact on Sub-Saharan Africa: An overview and analysis of scenarios and models. Discussion Paper 3/2009. Deutsches Institut fur Entwicklungspolitik, Germany. [8] Faramarzi, M., Abbaspour, K. C., Vaghefi, S.A., Farzaneh, M.R., Zehnder, A.J.B., Srinivasan, R., Yang, H. 2013. Modeling impacts of climate change on freshwater availability in Africa. Journal of Hydrology, 480 (2013) 85-101 [9] N'Tcha M'Po, Y., Lawin, E. A., Yao, B. K., Oyerinde, G. T., Attogouinon, A., Afouda, A. A. 2017. Decreasing Past and Mid-Century Rainfall Indices over the Ouémé River Basin, Benin (West Africa). Climate 2017, 5, 74. Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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[10]Porter, J.R. and M.A. Semenov, 2005. Crop responses to climatic variation. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 360(1463), 2021-2035 [11] Lotsch, A. (2007). Sensitivity of cropping patterns in Africa to Transient Climate Change. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 4289. World Bank, Washington DC. [12] Shah, M. M., Fischer, G., & van Velthuizen, H. (2008). Food security and sustainable agriculture: The challenges of climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa. Laxenburg, Austria: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis A-2361 [13] Fischer G., Shah M., Tubiello F. N. and van Velhuizen H. (2005). Socio-Economic and Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture: An Integrated Assessment, 1990-2080. Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences, Vol. 360, No. 1463, Food Crops in a changing climate (Nov. 29, 2005). pp. 2067- 2083 [14]Source : Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Elevage et de la Pêche (MAEP) [15] INSAE, (2013), Quatrième Recensement Général de la Population et de l'Habitation (RGPH 4) : Résultats Provisoires, Direction des Etudes Démographiques, Institut National de la Statistique et de l'Analyse Économique, , Benin ; Rapport performance secteur agricole MAEP, 2019. [16] Jalloh A, Thomas TS, Zougmoré R & Roy-Macauley, H. 2013. West African agriculture and climate change: A comprehensive analysis. IFPRI Research Monograph. Washington, D.C. International Food Policy Research Institute [17] Srivastava, K., Gaiser, T., Paeth, H., Ewert, F. 2012. The impact of climate change on Yam (Dioscorea alata) yield in the savanna zone of West Africa. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 153 (2012) 57-64 [18] PDA4: Pole de Developpement Agricole 4 (Fourth Agricultural Development Pole) [19] Jones, P. G., and Thornton, P. K. 2003. The potential impacts of climate change on maize production in Africa and Latin America in 2055. Global Environmental Change 13 (2003) 51-59 [20] IASC. (2009). Climate change, food insecurity and hunger. Key messages for UNFCCC Negotiators. Technical Paper for the IASC Task Force on Climate Change. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/ RWFiles2009.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/SNAA7XM3WP-full_report.pdf/$File/full_report.pdf. [21] Kotir, J., 2011: Climate change and variability in SubSaharan Africa: A review of current and future trends and impacts on agriculture and food security. Environ. Dev. Sustain., 13, 587-605. [22] Hounnou, F. E., Dedehouanou, H., Zannou, A., Agbahey, J., Biaou, G. 2019. Economy-Wide Effects of Climate Change in Benin: An Applied General Equilibrium Analysis. Sustainability 2019, 11, 6569. doi:10.3390/su11236569 [23] Kurukulasuriya, P., & Mendelsohn, R. (2007). A Ricardian analysis of the impact of climate change on Africa Cropland. World Bank Policy Research Paper No. 4305. World Bank, Washington D.C. [24] Schmidhuber, J. and Tubiello, F.N. 2007. Global food security under climate change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104, 19703-19708 [25] Dinar, A., Hassan, R., Mendelsohn, R., Benhin, J. 2008. Climate change and agriculture in Africa: impact assessment and adaptation strategies. Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa (CEEPA), 2008. [26] Patterson DT, Westbrook JK, Joyce RJV, Lingren PD, Rogasik J. Weeds, insects, and diseases. Climatic Change 1999;43(4):711-27 [27] MAEP (2017). Plan Stratégique de Développement du Secteur Agricole (PSDSA) 2025 et Plan National d'Investissements Agricoles et de Sécurité Alimentaire et Nutritionnelle PNIASAN 2017 - 2021. 2017 [28] UNCCD. 2017. Land Degradation Neutrality Setting Programme: Benin. UNCCD Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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B.2. Project / Programme description (1000 words) 13.This project aims to enhancing smallholder farmers resilience to recurrent risks of dry spell, rainfall variability and insufficiency, drought and wet season shortening that affect staple food production and compromise food security through a series of interventions grouped into three main components: i) upscaling the adoption of promoting alternative climate-resilient agricultural technologies at large scale (non-crop specific); ii) promoting fixed yam-based subsistence (staple foodcrops) as alternative for slash-and-burn shifting cropping system yam farming system; and iii) mainstreaming climate change adaptation and climate risks management in national agricultural monitoring and evaluation framework/system. The farmers' need for climate-resilient agricultural technologies is very high on the ground. Only 49,683 farmers, representing less than 1% of the farmers, used climate-smart agriculture technologies in Benin. These technologies relate to i) ISFM measures ii) conservation agriculture measures iii) water and soil conservation measures iv) integrated agriculture and livestock management measures v) agroforestry and industrial forestry measures vi) climate change adaptation measures. According to the performances measured among farmers who have adopted one or more of these technologies, an average yield increase of 44% has been recorded (ProSOL 2018 report). 2. The project will be implemented in the Fourth Agricultural Development Pole (PDA4)[1], one of the seven agricultural development poles of Benin. The choice of this agricultural development pole is explained by the high vulnerability of this region to the impacts of climate change, but also by the large role of the PDA4 in ensuring food security as production basin of several staple crop in Benin. PDA4 includes 16 municipalities namely Tachourou, , N'dali, Nikki, Pèrèrè, Djidja, Savalou, Bantè, Dassa, Glazoué, Savè, Ouèssè, , Ouaké, and Copargo. Projects activities will be carried out by the ATDA4[2], which is the regional technical agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing (MAEP) for the PDA4. As regional extension agency for the PDA4, ATDA4 possesses a dense agricultural advisory support network constituted of 16 municipality-level agricultural extension units and about 250 technicians that provide day-to-day technical advice and extension support to the farmers. These public extension agents will be mobilized to support the project activities. This will contribute to ensure the sustainability of the project interventions, support knowledge and experience sharing with other technicians of other agricultural development poles and facilitate the uptake of the project results in the overall national agricultural extension and advisory system. The project will target most climate vulnerable farmers such women, less resource endowed farmers including those with limited access to land (less than 5ha), and farmers that practice subsistence staple crop-based farming including maize, yam and sorghum. Municipalities and localities that have not benefited in the past from ProSOL project or other adaptation projects will be given priority. ProSOL tools/approach will guide the project intervention approach including participating municipalities, villages and farmers. ProSOL Project intervenes currently in 18 municipalities (, , Djidja, , Zakpota, , Cove, , , Savalou, Bante, Bembereke, Sinende, Kalale, Kandi, , and Segbana), of which only three (Djidja, Savalou and Bante) are located in PDA4. As results, the proposed project will focus on localities where ProSOL had no or limited impact in PDA4. Participatory community-level discussions will be conducted at the beginning of the project with all stakeholders including farmers organizations, technicians, civil societies and local authorities in order to identify beneficiaries of the project activities.

Component 1: Alternative climate-resilient agricultural technologies are promoted and used by vulnerable smallholder farmers (women and men) at large scale Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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3. This component will address three major non-crop specific technical barriers that worsen the vulnerability of smallholder farmers and limit their capacity to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change in PDA4. These three barriers include soil fertility loss and land degradation, water-/deficit due to climate change (dry spells, poor distribution of rainfall and shortening of rainy seasons) and poor knowledge and capacity on agricultural water control/management. To address these barriers, this Component will achieve the following three outputs:

Output 1.1. Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) approach and technologies are scaled up to farmers (of which 40% of women) for combating soil erosion, land degradation and fertility loss

4. Soil infertility is a major constraining-factor for higher agricultural productivity in PDA4, and it strongly limits farmers' capacity to adapt to climate change as it increases the risks of crop failures when farmers affected by unfavourable climate conditions. According to the National Agricultural Research Institute of Benin (INRAB), about 90% of agricultural land in Benin are characterized by a very low fertility. This Output will support the promotion and upscaling of a series of integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) technologies to farmers in PDA4 in order to restore soil fertility, and prevent deforestation and land degradation. The project will focus on well-know and tested technologies that demonstrated promising results in improving/restoring soil fertility, such as cover crop with legumes (macula, Stylosanthes, Gliricidia sepium and Aeschynomene histrix), micro- fertilization, residue retention, crop rotation with N-fixing legumes/crop (pigeonpea), crop association/rotation, and compost. To prevent the crop for being invaded by invasive species, the project will also promote integrated pest management (IPM) techniques based on the the use of biopesticides (insecticides and herbicides) and judicious crop association/rotation system. These different technologies have been promoted through various projects including ProSOL. Activities to be implemented through this output includes: 1.1.1) raise farmers' awareness on ISFM technologies, 1.1.2) train extension ATDA4 agents/technicians on ISFM technologies; 1.1.3) establish farmers-field schools on ISFM approach; 1.1.4) develop trainings materials for technicians and farmers; 1.1.5) train of trainers (technical extension agents); 1.1.6) implement training of the farmers; and 1.1.7) support the acquisition of required inputs to facilitate the adoption of the technologies.

Output 1.2. Sustainable on-farm soil and water conservation tools and techniques are scaled up to farmers (of which 40% of women) for increasing farmers' resilience to water-stress due to climate change risks (dry spells, poor rainfall distribution, insufficient rain, shortening of rainy seasons, etc.)

5. Water deficit resulting from insufficient rains, poor rainfall distribution, dry spells and/or modifications of seasons impact negatively people livelihoods in PDA4. But, farmers face a number of constraints related to lack of technical capacity, knowledge and information on sustainable water conservation techniques, which have shown promising results in enhancing resilience against drought and water deficit in many drought-prone and water-constraining areas. The results achieved through ProSOL project suggest that, combined with ISFM technologies, the adoption of SWC techniques can help to increase yield up to 83% for yam and 51% for maize. Under the output 1.2, the project will implement a number of activities to help farmers overcome the different barriers preventing them from adopting SWC in order adapt to increased water deficit caused by climate change in PDA4. The project will promote on-farm water harvesting practices (e.g., zai and half-moon) and soil moisture conservation practices (e.g., mulching, cover crop, no/minimum till and stone lines). To achieve this Output, the following activities will be implemented: 1.2.1) raise farmers' awareness on SWC Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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technologies, 1.2.2) train ATDA4 extension agents/technicians on SWC, 1.2.3) establish farmers-field schools on SWC approach, 1.2.4) develop training materials for technicians and farmers; 1.2.5) training of trainers (technical extension agents); 1.2.6) implement trainings of the farmers; and 1.2.7) ssupport farners for the acquisition of required inputs to facilitate the adoption of the technologies.

Output 1.3. Small-scale individual and precision irrigation equipment is provided to vulnerable farmers (of which 60% of women and youth) for practicing off/dry-season farming and/or supplemental irrigation as to cope with dry spells and insufficient rainfall risks during wet season

6. Crop production in PDA4 is essentially rain-fed-based. Less than 5% farmers practice irrigated agriculture28. To address this barrier, this Output will supply farmers with small-scale individual and precision irrigation equipment such solar motorpumps, drip irrigation, watering hoses, watering cans and garden materials. The achievement of this output will significantly enhance farmers' capacity to cope with water-deficit by practing small-scale irrigation, off-season farming and supplemental irrigation. Supplemental irrigation can significantly help to mitigate the impacts dry spells and insufficient rainfall on crop production. To achieve this output the project will implement the following activities: 1.3.1) train the beneficiaries on the use of supplemental irrigation, drip irrigation and dry- season farming; 1.3.2) supply selected farmers with small-scale irrigation equipments such as solar- powered motorpumps, drip irrigation, watering hoses, watering cans and garden materials; 1.3.3) support the development of village-level small irrigation infrastcurures; 1.3.4) provide technical support to farmers for management and maintenance of small scale equipments. For this output, the project will emphasize on female farmers and low/less-land endowed farmers, as this will help them to significantly increase their production and also to practice off-season crop production to compensate their limited access to land.

Component 2: Sustainable yam-based farming system is implemented as alternative for slash-and- burn shifting yam farming system to prevent land degradation and protectecosystems and biodiversity

7. Subsistence staple crop-based farming is very vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Farmers practicing subsistence farming lack access to inputs (e.g., improved climate resilient seeds) and strongly depend on rains to fulfil their water needs for crop production. Climate change, including insufficient rains, dry spells and water deficit, have affected the productivity of several staple crops during the last few years. After some periods of improvement, productivity/yields of several staple crops have significantly decreased during the last decade due to poor rainfall distribution[3]. Yield of maize, which was already very low compared to other regions, decreased from 1.42 tons in 2011 to 1.28 tons in 2015, corresponding to a decrease of about 10%. The yields of yam and rice, two other important staple crops, experienced a decrease of about 23% and 20%, respectively between 2011 and 201534. Unfavourable climate conditions affecting the country since 2010 are pointed out as the main cause of yield decrease after several years of continuous increase. Despite the decrease of agricultural yields, the amount of production of these different crops have constantly increased over the same period30, explaining the large-scale land clearing for agricultural production. Unsustainable extensive farming practices have led to large scale land degradation and deforestation in Benin. About 2.2 million hectares of land, equivalent to 19% of the of Benin territory, have been degraded in 10 years period due to agricultural production. Benin has lost about 21% of its forest areas in only 10 years. This Component will deliver three major outputs, complementary to those delivered through Component 1, and which will help to enhance the resilience of maize- and yam-based farming systems, and therefore build the resilience of vulnerable households depending on these systems for Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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their livelihoods.

Output 2.1. Fixed-yam cropping system integrating fertilizing legumes is promoted and adopted by subsistence farmers (of which 40% women) as alternative sustainable practices to slash-and-burn shifting cropping system

8. The production of yam is a major driver of deforestation and land degradation in PDA4. It involves slash-and-burn shifting cropping system as, as a liana, yam needs trees or other means of vertical support to climb up in order get access to well-lit areas. This cropping system has led to a large-scale deforestation and land degradation in such that PDA4 is ranked among largest degradation hotpots in Benin. If the ongoing land degradation trends are to be reversed in PDA4 farmers will need to be provided with alternative environmental-friendly yam cropping system. The agricultural research institute of Benin has developed alternative environmental-friendly fixed-yam production system integrating the use of some fertilizing-legumin shrubs such as Gliricidia sepium, Aeschynomene histrix, as tutor for yam plants. This system has been tested and upscaled with promising results within the framework of ProSOL project, as a significant increase of yam yield of about 62% ws recorded with the adoption of fixed-yam production system integrating the use of fertilizing-legumin shrubs such (e.g., Gliricidia sepium, and Aeschynomene histrix). But, several constraints limit the adoption of alternative environmental-friendly yam production system by farmers, including the lack of information and knowledge, the lack of technical support, the lack of cultivars of yam and seeds of Gliricidia sepium and Aeschynomene histrix. Through this Output, the project will address these constraints by implementing the following activities: 2.1.1) raise farmers' awareness on fixed-yam production system integrating the use of the Gliricidia sepium and Aeschynomene histrix, 2.1.2) train extension agents/technicians on fixed-yam production system, 2.1.3) establish farmers-field schools on fixed- yam production system, 2.1.4) train yam producers on fixed-yam production system integrating the use of the Gliricidia sepium and Aeschynomene histrix, 2.1.5) provide farmers with cultivars of yam and seeds of Gliricidia sepium and Aeschynomene histrix to facilitate the upscaling of these practices on their individual farms.

Output 2.2. Proximity staple crop seeds production system is implemented at village- of municipality-levels for facilitating farmers access to high-yielding and drought/climate-resilient staple crop seeds

9. The lack of access to seeds/cultivars limits the adoption of drought and water-stress resilient seeds as well as the use of fixed-yam production system described in Output 2.1. The national seed supply system works only for cash/imported crops such as cotton and cashew. Farmers practicing subsistence farming face a number of constraints to accessing improved climate-resilient seeds. Through the Output 2.2, the project will promote local-level seed production systems targeting key staple crops such as yams, maize and soy. Main activities to implement will include: 2.2.1) identify climate resilient maize and soy seeds and yam cultivars through a participatory approach with farmers, 2.2.2) identify farmers to be supported for seeds and cultivars production, 2.2.3) train seeds/cultivars producers on seed production and certification processes, 2.2.4) provide farmers with required inputs for producing seeds, 2.2.5) support farmers for the certification of local produced seeds, and 2.2.6) establish partnership/contract between local seeds producers and staple crop farmers. As seeds production requires less land is very profitable, the project will target less-land endowered farmers including women to deliver on this output. Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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Output 2.3. Improved seeds of staple food crops (maize, soy and yam) adapted to water-deficit and erratic climate conditions are provided to farmers (of which 40% women)

10. The project will promote large-scale use of improved climate resilient seeds with features to better perform under erratic climate conditions and to cope with water deficit related to dry spells, droughts, insufficient rains, etc. The Output 2.3 will help to achieve this objective through the implementation of the following activities: 2.3.1) support the establishment of seeds supply contract between maize, soy and yam farmers and local seed producers, 2.3.2) support farmers for acquiring climate-resilient seeds and 2.3.3) provide training to farmers on the use of climate-resilient seeds. The project will also provide farmers' with seeds of fertilizing-legumes that will be promoted in integrated cropping systems through association and rotation with maize, yam and soy.

Component 3: Climate change adaptation and climate risks management are mainstreamed in national agricultural extension and monitoring & evaluation framework/system 11. This Component will achieve three main outputs aimed at: i) promoting the use of CIS for adaptation in agricultural sector, ii) mainstreaming CIS and climate change adaptation in national agricultural extension and advisory support system and iii) strengthening the monitoring and evaluation of LDN process and land degradation dynamics in agricultural sector. The three output to be achieved through component 3 are as follow:

Output 3.1. Climate change adaptation is mainstreamed in the national agricultural extension and advisory system as well as in the national monitoring and evaluation framework for agricultural

12. Agricultural extension and advisory system in Benin is still based on conventional business as usual approach, which essentially emphasizes on promoting and facilitating access to conventional agricultural technologies such as chemical fertilizers, high-yielding and chemicals-dependent seeds, chemical pesticides and mechanized farming. The current system does not mainstream the use of climate information and services (CIS) in technical information support provided to farmers, while in the context of climate change having access to real-time CIS would help farmers in improving their decisions-making regarding crop choices, sowing date, and other important production decisions. Several factors explain this situation among which: i) the lack of an effective agricultural-oriented weather forecast and CIS production and dissemination mechanism in place, ii) non-mainstreaming of climate change adaptation in both national agricultural extension system and monitoring and evaluation framework for agricultural sector. Under this Output, the project will support MAEP to address these barriers and facilitate the mainstreaming of CIS in the national agricultural extension and advisory system. To achieve this output, the following activities will be implemented: 3.1.1) review the manuals of monitoring and evaluation of frameworks as well as agricultural advisory and extension system; 3.1.2) identify and mainstream climate change adaptation indicators in the monitoring and evaluation frameworks of agricultural sector and the extension system; and 3.1.3) build capacity of the different actors involved in monitoring and evaluation process and advisory services of agricultural sector

Output 3. 2. Climate information and services are provided to farmers (of which 50% women) to build their resilience against climate change

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13. Under this output, the project will support Meteo-Benin to strengthen its weather forecast coverage in PDA4 and create the enabling environment for CIS production and dissemination for agricultural purposes. Meteo-Benin is the state institution produding and dissiminating climate information and services in Benin. The project will particularly support Meteo-Benin with meteorological equipment and support the establishment of a phone- and web-based weather information system that can help to provide real-time and usable CIS to farmers as to build their resilience to climate change. The processed data will be disseminated via mobile-phones. But, most farmers are not educated, and cannot read and understand SMSs. Extension agents will therefore serve as intermediary for CIS dissemination to the farmers. They will receive the data via their mobile phones, and use it to assist and advise farmers on production decisions. Farmers' CIS needs assessment will be conducted at the beginning of the project in order to tailor weather information to real needs of farmers. An assessment of production and dissemination of CIS by the National Meteo Agency of Benin (Meteo-Benin) revealed major barriers and capacity development needs for ensuring an effective mechanism of CIS supply for adaptation in six priority climate-sensitive sectors such as, agriculture and food security, water resources, health, natural disasters and risk reduction, energy and tourism. For agricultural sector, the assessment shows that Meteo-Benin suffers from a crucial lack of equipment/infrastructures, poor coverage of country with weather forecast and observation systems, lack of agrometeorology experts to support the production of agricultural-oriented CIS, and the lack of radar for downscaling climate data (rainfall), lack of rainfall and weather forecast at local level and the lack of a dedicated centre for climate forecast for agricultural purposes. This Output will support Meteo-Benin to address some of these barriers, especially those that are more important to enhance CIS production and dissemination for agricultural purposes in Benin. A consultation will be carried out with Meteo-Benin and key important other stakeholders at the stage of funding proposal in order to precisely identify how the project could support Meteo-Benin in addressing these barriers. To achieve this output, the following activities will be implemented: 3.2.1) acquisition of meteorological equipment for Meteo-Benin; 3.2.2) support production of climate information adapted for agricultural sector; and 3.2.3) Support dissemination and use of climate information and services by subsistence farmers.

Output 3.3. National GIS-based land use and LDN monitoring system in agricultural sector is strengthened for enhanced control and monitoring of agricultural-driven land degradation and deforestation

14. There is a lack of a technical GIS-based framework to monitor land degradation dynamics in agricultural sector in Benin, while agriculture is the main driver of land degradation and deforestation. About 2.2 million of land, or 19%, of the national territory, was degraded between 2001-2010 due to land cleaning for crop production. An analysis of monitoring & evaluation framework of agricultural sector revealed a lack of technical capacity and tools to support the monitoring of LDN process and agricultural-driven land degradation dynamics in Benin. The Output will support the establishment of a GIS-based land use and LDN monitoring system in agricultural sector in order to support policy decision-making for an enhanced control and monitoring of agricultural-driven land degradation and deforestation in Benin. This Output will involve several activities that will be carried out with key stakeholders including the Ministry of living environment and sustainable development, farmers organizations and MAEP. These activities will be detailled at the stage of funding proposal. To achieve this output, the following activities will be implemented: 3.3.1) acquisition of GIS equipment for the Ministry of living environment and sustainable development; 3.3.2) strengthen the technical capacity on LDN and land degradation monitoring in agricultural sector; 3.3.3) support field work and data collection for monitoring of LDN and land degradation in agricultural sector Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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15. Costs and benefits of the proposed ISFM and Soil &Water Conservation (SWC) technologies are well documented[4]: · Improvement of soil fertility[5],[6] and increase of agricultural yields and production28,[7],[8], which are necessary for food security and the fight against poverty[9]. · Increase in agricultural income, with a cost-benefit ratio of 2-15 in West African setting8 . · Mitigation and agricultural emission reductions through increasing organic carbon in soils, reducing the use of fertilizers and combating deforestation28,30. · Strengthened resilience and reduced vulnerability through the collection, retention and infiltration of water at the plot scale; maintenance of soil moisture to combat droughts, scarcity of rainfall or shortening rainy seasons29,[10]. · Land restoration and biodiversity: Combat erosion and sediment loss, improve biodiversity and soil quality[11].

The suitability of the proposed AE as well as the proposed implementation arrangements can be described as follows:

16. Accredited entity (AE): The FNEC is the AE to submit the proposal and supervise the implementation of this project. It has long experience in financing and implementing projects in the field of environment, adaptation, mitigation and natural resource management in Benin. It is the national entity mandated for the mobilization of domestic regional and international financial resources to support the efforts of environmental preservation, natural resource management and the fight against climate change. This project will be one of the first GCF projects to be implemented by the FNEC. At the managerial level, the FNEC will provide overall supervision and coordination of the project, including monitoring and evaluation, quality assurance of services and the production and submission of technical and financial reports to the GCF.

17. Executing entity:The project will be executed by the technical units of the MAEP along with the GIZ (as co-executing entity). Components 1 and 2 will be executed by the territorial Agricultural Development Agency (ATDA4) for the PDA4. Component 3 will be implemented by the Direction de la Prospection et de la Programmation (DPP) of MAEP, with strong involvement of the national institutions for production / collection, analysis and dissemination of climate information which are the Ministère du Cadre de Vie et du Développement Durable (MCVDD) and Météo-Bénin. Local communities and national research institutes will be involved in the implementation of the project to increase ownership and integration of results into the communal development policies and the system of knowledge and innovation dissemination at the national level.

18. Steering Committee (SC):The project SC will comprise FNEC, MAEP, MCVDD, communes, Civil Society and project beneficiaries. The SC will ensure general project supervision, approve the technical and financial reports and provide the necessary guidance for the successful implementation of the project. The SC will also be open for observers from certain international partners, including GIZ and GM/UNCCD to help replication and/or scaling up in other countries and regions. FNEC will have the final say in decisions making of the Steering Committee regarding the implementation of the project.

19. Project Management Unit (PMU): Coordination and project monitoring will be provided by the Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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PMU which will be based within the DPP/MAEP. Organizational and operational details will be provided in the full Funding Proposal (FP).

Key financial and operational risks and related mitigation measures include (to be detailed in the FP

Risks 1 : Weak institutional engagement, Level of risk1 : Moderate ; Risk1 level justification : Risks are moderate because the project will be managed by the National Accredited Entity to GCF - The FNEC - and a dedicated PMU will be set up. Mitigation measures risk1 : A Steering Committee will be created involving all relevant partners allowing inclusiveness and participative decision-making process. Set up a flexible and inclusive steering committee based on permanent and less political structures - Establish an inclusive institutional arrangement - Strengthen the capacities of FNEC and the EE on the reporting and monitoring-evaluation procedures of the GCF. Adequate gender gap assessment and gender action plan.

Risk 2 : Poor participation of stakeholders and target groups Level of risk2 : Low (or moderate) Risk2 level justification : Risk are low (or moderate) because the project is based on replicating and scaling up successful and tested approaches under ProSOL and other national/regional projects that fully involved local communities and land users. Mitigation measures risk2 : Work with agricultural councils or service providers; - Beneficiary sensitization; - Rely on MAEP's local units to large extent; Adequate gender action plan to ensure women's participation.

Risk 3 : Governance and fiduciary risk Level of risk 3 : Moderate Risk 3 level justification : Risks are moderate because the project will set up all needed procurement, accounting and financial procedures and human resources in place at the beginning of the project thanks to the FNEC and the PMU. Mitigation measures risk 3 : Adequate training in procurement, accounting, financial management, reporting, grievance/redress mechanism for FNEC and PMU staff Fiduciary responsibilities to be clearly spelled out.

Risk 4 : Low technology adoption Level of risk 4 : Low /moderate Risk 4 level justification Mitigation measures risk4 : Develop the project with the beneficiaries ( bottom-up approach)

[1] The Government of Benin has adopted in 2016 a new agricultural development framework that distinguishes seven (07) Poles of Agricultural Development (PDA). These PDAs were defined mainly based on local agroclimatic conditions and characteristics of agricultural systems of in each zone. To support the management of the PDAs, seven (07) territorial agricultural development agencies (ATDA) Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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were created as technical representative of the MAEP mandated to facilitate the implementation of national agricultural policy and actions in each PDA. [2] Agence Territoriale du Developpement Agricole 4 (ATDA4) - Territorial Agency for Agricultural Development [3]Cabinet Geca-Prospective (2017). Propositions détaillées pour la mise en place et l'opérationnalisation des agences territoriales de gestion des pôles de développement agricole. Rapport Final, Décembre 2017 [4] Zougmoré, R., Jalloh, A., Tioro, A., 2014. Climate-smart soil water and nutrient management options in semiarid West Africa: a review of evidence and analysis of stone bunds and zaï techniques. Agric. Food Secur. 3, 16. [5] Zougmoré, R., Zida, Z., Kamboua, N.F., 2003. Role of nutrient amendments in the success of half-moon soil and water conservation practice in semiarid Burkina Faso. Soil Tillage Res. 71, 143- 149. [6] Zougmore, R., Mando, A., Stroosnijder, L., Guillobez, S., 2004, ‘Nitrogen flows and balances as affected by soil water and nutrients management in semi arid Burkina Faso', Field Crops Research 90, 235-244. [7] Zougmoré, R., Jalloh, A., Tioro, A., 2014. Climate-smart soil water and nutrient management options in semiarid West Africa: a review of evidence and analysis of stone bunds and zaï techniques. Agric. Food Secur. 3, 16. [8] Abdulai, A., & Huffman, W. E. (2014). Adoption and impact of soil and water conservation technology: An endogenous switching regression application. Land Economics, 90, 26-43. [9] Issahaku, G., Abdulai, A., 2019. Can farm households improve food and nutrition security through adoption of climate-smart practices? Empirical evidence from Northern Ghana. Appl. Econ. Perspect. Policy 0 (0), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1093/aepp/ppz002 [10] Zougmore, R., Mando, A., Stroosnijder, L., 2009. Soil nutrient and sediment loss as affected by erosion barriers and nutrient source in semi-arid Burkina Faso. Arid Land Res. Manag. 23, 85-101. [11] Le MAEP est la structure publique en charge de l'élaboration, la mise en œuvre et le suivi des politiques agricoles au Bénin. Il a donc une connaissance parfaite du système agricole et d'appui conseil, et dispose des démembrements au niveau local pour faciliter une diffusion rapide et une meilleure appropriation des technologies par les bénéficiaires. B.3.Expected performance against the GCF investment criteria 1. Impact potential · The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 149,000 farms and their families, and approximately 894,000 people (5.6% of Benin's national population) with at least 40% women[1]. · The project will help to significantly increase women and men farmers' incomes and food production, both preventing climate change-induced losses in physical assets and social losses. · Focusing on strategically important yam, maize and soy, the project will contribute significantly to economic stability and food security, including the poorest population segments like women-headed households. 70% and 20% of yam and maize respectively are produced today in the project intervention area.

Paradigm shift 2. This project has a great potential to improve the living conditions and resilience of vulnerable people. Through the improvement of agricultural yields, the adoption of ISFM and water and soil conservation measures will help to significantly increase income and food production. Studies have Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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shown considerable gains in terms of agricultural yields and incomes with a cost-benefit ratio of 1:2 to 1:15.

3. The project will contribute to strengthening the capacities of smallholder farmers to combat drought, dry spells, low and irregular rainfall, which are the main climate risks affecting people in PDA4. The project will bring several behavioral shifts among the farmers through the substitution of unsustainable slash-and-burn shifting cropping system with environmental-friendly fixed yam production system, the mainstreaming of adaptation to climate change in the national agricultural extension and advisory support framework, the strengthening of monitoring and evaluation of LDN and land degradation dynamics in the national motoring and evaluation framework of agricultural sector, and the establishment an effective and well-functioning CIS production and use in agricultural sector. The outputs of this project will therefore help to bring about a change in creating an enabling institutional and political framework for climate change adaptation in agricultural sector throughout the country.

4. The project's modus operandi will be based on a paradigm shift on land degradation in the agricultural sector from the principle of "Degrade > Abandon > Migrate" to a new paradigm based on the response hierarchy of "Avoid > Reduce > Restore" in accordance with the vision of land degradation neutrality (LDN). This behavioral change will consist in the promotion of fixed-yam-maize- based cropping system integrating the use of legumes shrubs in association/rotation with other staple foods such as maize and soy. The promotion of proximity local staple crop seed production system that the project will establish at village and/or municipality level is an innovative approach that will help to upscale the use of improved climate resilient seeds in subsistence farming in PDA4, and build a long-term resilience of farmers. . 5. Sustainable development · As the project intervention area is a reception area for agricultural migrants, the capacity of communities to provide opportunities and sustainable livelihoods for these vulnerable groups will be increased, including women and youth. · The sedentarization of the yam production system will significantly reduce deforestation and the adoption of ISFM/SWC technologies will offer co-benefits for soil carbon sequestration. · The project will contribute to the achievement of several priority SDGs for Benin: poverty reduction (SDG1) and food security (SDG2) due to improvement of people's living conditions; ensuring gender equality (SDG5); providing decent work and allowing economic growth (SDG 8); SDG10 on sustainable production & consumption due to more sustainable agricultural tenure systems; adaptation to climate change (SDG 13) and preservation of terrestrial ecosystems (SDG15) due to prevention of land degradation and restoration of degraded lands. 6. Needs of recipients · Benin is an LDC, ranking 163 of 189 in HDI and with an agriculture-based economy (70% of labor force is in agriculture; 28.3% of GDP and 75% of export earnings from agriculture sector; about one third of rural population depending on degraded agricultural land for their livelihood[2]; about one third of rural population living below poverty line; about 20% of households being food insecure[3]; most producers lacking knowledge & access to finance to improve production); · Agricultural production is still largely rain-fed, low yield and unproductive, relying on traditional tools with low input use, lack of supervision on input use13, resulting in the degradation of land and ecosystems; Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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· Expected climate changes in the proposed project area indicate that the vulnerability of the agricultural sector and people depending on it will increase significantly (rainfall variation, droughts, extreme weather); · Based on lessons learnt from numerous other projects, the proposed project attempts to address all these problems, whereas grant financing at scale as offered uniquely by the GCF is of critical importance. 7. Country ownership · The project is fully aligned and supportive to the PAG, the PND (National Development Plan), the PC2D (Growth for Sustainable Development Program), the PSRS (Strategic Plan for Agricultural Sector Development 2018-2025), National Agricultural Investment, Food Security and Nutrition Plan, the Agriculture Smart Climate Strategy, the Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Development Strategy 2016 - 2025, the Nationally Determined Contribution, the National Action Plan on Sustainable Land Management 2018-2027 supporting the National Land Degradation Neutrality Targets, and, the Strategic Investment Plan for Sustainable Land Management. · The Concept Note elaboration was coordinated by FNEC and with continuous involvement of Benin's NDA. Extensive stakeholder consultations will be carried out as part of the process leading to the Funding Proposal. · The project was developed in the context of PAS-PNA, drawing on GIZ expertise and regional experience exchange. The concept note also benefited from technical support provided by the UNCCD Global Mechanism. 8. Efficiency and effectiveness The project will build on and use best practices developed and tested in numerous previous projects (ProSOL, etc.). [1] Direct project beneficiaries are farmers benefiting directly from project intervention in terms of technical capacity building, provision of equipment, small grants, etc. Indirect beneficiaries include the family/households' members of the direct beneficiaries, who could also be benefited from the project interventions through the improvement of food production and farming income for the entire households. The average size of farm household in Benin is 6 persons: by directly impacting 149,000 farmers and their families, the project will therefore benefit to 894,000 people [2] UNCCD, 2018. Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) country profile: Benin. Bonn, 2018. [3] INSAE, 2015. Enquête Modulaire Intégrée sur les Conditions de Vie des Ménages (EMICoV- 2015), Benin. B.4 Stakeholders consultation and engagement (300 words ) 1. This concept note is the result of a highly participatory process. All relevant stakeholders, including the National Designated Authority (NDA), the Accredited Entity (AE) and Executing Entities (EE) were strongly involved. FNEC, as the AE,coordinated with the support of GIZ through PAS-PNA the process of identification and formulation of the project idea through a national competition, a call for ideas. Inter-institutional consultations were organized between FNEC (AE), MAEP (EE), MCVDD units including the NDA, and GIC as a local NGO partner to support the identification, the development and implementation of the project. These interinstitutional consultations allowed to initiate preliminary reflections on the logical framework of the project through the definition of the objectives, activities and expected results of the project. Some field visits were organized for the project promoters including FNEC and MAEP in the project intervention area and on the sites of the ProSOL and PACC-C projects. On the one hand, the visits aimed at examining the fertility management technologies and the water and soil conservation measures promoted by these projects and, on the other hand, learning from the projects' experiences Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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and discussing directly with beneficiaries and other local actors. Some consultation and concept note writing workshops involving all the stakeholders including NDA, AE, EE, the beneficiaries and the national and international experts were organized to advance in the preparation and the development of the project idea. These consultations will be continued and extended to other actors including local communities, women and youth's representatives during the preparation phase of the funding proposal to ensure effective ownership of the development process, the goals and the objectives, the components and the different expected results of the project by all relevant stakeholders. C. Indicative financing information (max. 2 pages) C.1. Financing by components Please provide an estimate of the total cost per component and disaggregate by source of financing. Indicative cost GCF financing Co-financing (USD) Component Output Amount Financial Type Amount Financial Name of (USD) Instrument (USD) Instrument Institutions Component 1: Alternative climate- resilient agricultural All outputs technologies (detailed are per output MAEP promoted will be 5,225,290 4,787,965 Grant Public 437,325 Grant and and used by provided in FNEC vulnerable the funding smallholder proposal) farmers (women and men) at large scale Component 2: Sustainable yam-based farming system is implemented All outputs as (detailed alternative per output for slash- 2,801,83 MAEP will be 3,220,650 Grant Public 418,820 Grant and-burn 0 FNEC provided in shifting yam the funding farming proposal) system to prevent land degradation and protectecosy stems and biodiversity Component All outputs 1,807,27 MAEP 3: Climate (detailed 1,926,100 Grant Public 118,830 Grant 0 FNEC change per output Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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adaptation will be and climate provided in risks the funding managemen proposal) t are mainstream ed in national agricultural extension and monitoring & evaluation framework/s ystem All outputs (detailed Project per output 547,876. 230,026.7 MAEP managemen will be 777,903 Grant Public Grant 24 6 FNEC t provided in the funding proposal)

Indicative total cost (USD) 11,149,943 9,397,065 974,975

For private sector proposal, provide an overview (diagram) of the proposed financing structure. C.2. Justification of GCF Funding Request (300 words) 1. For implementing this project, Benin is requesting a financial contribution in a form of a grant of USD 9,944,941.24from the GCF. The remaining USD 1,205,001.76 will be supported by national counterparts and development partners. This grant requested by the Government of Benin to support the implementation of this project is justified as follows: - Benin is a LDC ranked 163 out of 189 countries according to the 2018 HDI report, the country is still facing many chall enges despite political stability and improvement of some socio-economic indicators. Its economy is based on the agricultural sector which employs more than 70% of the active population and contributes 28,3% of the GDP. This sector provides more than 75% of export revenues and accounts for 15% of national revenues. Agriculture is the most vulnerable sector to the adverse effects of climate change. Despite the efforts made at national level, the country cannot manage the new risks caused by climate change on its own. - The local population lacks the capacity to cope with the impacts of climate change in agriculture. With a GDP per capita estimated at USD 771, 40.1% of the population lives below the poverty line, an increase of 3.9% compared to 2011 (AGVSA, 2018). This shows the low financial capacity of beneficiaries to pay for the services and technologies that the project will provide to improve their conditions and support them in breaking out of the vicious circle of poverty. The project will also contribute to closing the gender gap which is critical in rural areas and among female producers, representing highly vulnerable society segments with regard to climate change, income and food security. - Given the seriousness of the impacts of climate change on the country's development, some technical and financial partners (GIZ, GEF, UNCDF, UNDP, FAO, UNEP etc.) support capacity building actions for climate change adaptation. However, these funds are not sufficient to meet the enormous needs of the population in promoting climate-resilient agricultural technologies. This project aims to provide the services and technologies needed to improve agricultural production conditions to Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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help people break out of poverty and boost the national economy.

The reasons listed above justify the Government of Benin's request to the GCF to scale up experiences and achievements in resilience and adaptation to climate change in the agricultural sector. The planned activities will enable vulnerable groups such as women and youth in becoming more self-reliant to participate in the emerging local economy. The funds that will be allocated by the GCF will be used primarily for the dissemination and adoption of resilient technological packages by the local population. Without this grant sought from the GCF, the interventions envisaged under this project cannot be implemented and hundreds of thousands of people including vulnerable groups such as women, children and youth will be abandoned in precariousness and climate vulnerability. C.3. Exit Strategy and Sustainability (300 words) 1. The sustainability and replicability of the project interventions is based primarily on the choice of technologies and implementation approaches. The interventions will focus on technologies already tested, requiring less investment from producers others than their work force and technical know-how. Thus, the project will focus on raising awareness and strengthening the technical and knowledge capacities of male and female beneficiaries in order to facilitate the ownership of project activities and remove technical and cultural barriers to the adoption and reproduction of technologies. Project activities will not further degrade the environment; they will rather contribute to the reinforcement of the vegetation cover of the intervention zone and the protection of the biodiversity, as well as the natural vegetation that is often destroyed by the practice of the extensive agriculture. The project interventions will significantly increase women and men producers' incomes, providing them with the financial capabilities needed to continue using the technologies and approaches promoted by the project.

2. The project will implement several approaches to sensitize local communities on the management and governance of common resources in order to induce a lasting behavioral change among producers in relation to how they conceive natural resources and how their agricultural practices contribute to the degradation and scarcity of these resources, and thus increase their vulnerability to climate change.

3. Contrary to the sometimes practiced approach of entrusting the execution of projects to NGOs and other service providers whose actions end automatically when the project is closed, the interventions of this project will be largely realized by public advisory and extension services, namely the MAEP's technical units in the PDA4. This will not only reduce the costs of carrying out activities, but also and importantly ensure a broad replication and continuity of activities after project end. This intervention approach will also facilitate the effective ownership and integration of project achievements and experiences into the national extension system.

The project will facilitate activities of exchange and sharing of experiences and knowledge between the technical units of the MAEP in PDA4 and those of the other Agricultural Development Poles to facilitate a wide dissemination and scaling up of the project achievements in other regions. Specific capacity-building and awareness-raising actions will therefore be put in place for the staff of the territorial agency of MAEP in PDA4 (ATDA4), as they are the main technology diffusion agents and also maintain a strong relationship of trust with producers. Finally, the project will also avoid creating parallel entities that cannot exist without the project. The sustainability and replicability of project interventions is based primarily on the choice of technologies and implementation approaches. D. Annexes Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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☒ ESS screening check list (Annex 1) ☐ Map indicating the location of the project/programme (as applicable) ☐ Evaluation Report of previous project (as applicable) Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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Annex 1: Environmental and Social Screening Checklist

Part A: Risk Factors

Please indicate your answers to the questions below and provide an explanation on the response selected. In cases when the TBD response has been selected please explain briefly why you are not able to determine now and when in the project cycle the question will be addressed.

If the criteria is not applicable to the project you may write N/A in the justification box.

Exclusion criteria YES NO Will the activities involve associated facilities and require further ☐ ☒ due diligence of such associated facilities? Proposed activities consist in upscaling simple and already tested technologies and practices at farm level. No facilities or large-scale agricultural infrastructures will be installed in the framework of this project Will the activities involve trans-boundary impacts including those that would require further due diligence and notification to affected ☐ ☒ states? Project intervention sites are not close to borders and also are not located within an international river basin. So, the project activities will not involve any trans-boundary impact. Will the activities adversely affect working conditions and health and safety of workers or potentially employ vulnerable categories of ☐ ☒ workers including women and children? All the project's activities will contribute to improve living and working conditions of the beneficiaries. Local legislation prohibit chidren labor, and. The project will be implementeated in compliance with local legislatation, which prohibits chidren labor. Will the activities potentially generate hazardous waste and pollutants including pesticides and contaminate lands that would require further studies on management, minimization and control ☐ ☒ and compliance to the country and applicable international environmental quality standards? The project will not support/promote the use of pesticides or any other pollutant. The project will focus on the promotion of environmental-friendly agricultural technologies such as sustainable water and land conservation practices. However, the waste that will be generated by the solar- powered motorpumps for individual small-scale irrigation will be managed in respect of the BALE convention on dangerous wastes that Benin has ratified. Will the activities involve the construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of critical infrastructure (like dams, water ☐ ☒ impoundments, coastal and river bank infrastructure) that would require further technical assessment and safety studies? None of the project activites will involve the construction of dams, water impoundments, coastal and river bank infrastructure Will the activities potentially involve resettlement and dispossession, land acquisition, and economic displacement of ☐ ☒ persons and communities? The activities will not have significant negative impacts on the environment, and will not require any land expropriation or land grabbing, population displacement and/or reallocation of ownership rights of the local populations on lands and natural resources. All activities of the project will be carried out in strict compliance with local and national legislation and property rights. Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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Will the activities be located in or in the vicinity of protected areas and areas of ecological significance including critical habitats, key ☐ ☒ biodiversity areas and internationally recognized conservation sites? The activities will not be implemented in protected state areas neither in sensitive or protected ecological zones Will the activities affect indigenous peoples that would require further due diligence, free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) and ☐ ☒ documentation of development plans? There are no indigenous peoples in the project areas. The project interventions will benefit to local communities who are the main beneficiaries of the project. Will the activities be located in areas that are considered to have archaeological (prehistoric), paleontological, historical, cultural, ☐ ☒ artistic, and religious values or contains features considered as critical cultural heritage? Archaeological (prehistoric), paleontological, historical, cultural, artistic, and religious values or contains features considered as critical cultural heritage are considered as protected areas by local legislation in Benin. None activities will be implemented in or near these protected areas. In any case, critical cultural heritage will be protected in strict respect of local legislation.

Part B: Specific environmental and social risks and impacts

Assessment and Management of Environmental YES NO TBD and Social Risks and Impacts Has the E&S risk category of the project been ☒ ☐ provided in the concept note? Has the rationale for the categorization of the project been provided in the relevant sections of the concept ☒ ☐ note? Are there any additional environmental, health and safety requirements under the national laws and ☐ ☒ ☐ regulations and relevant international treaties and agreements? Proposed activities consist in upscaling simple and already tested technologies and practices at the farm level along with the promotion of small-scale individual irrigation technologies and institutional capacity development. These activities do not require E&S impact study/assessment. Are the identification of risks and impacts based on ☒ ☐ ☐ recent or up-to-date information? The environmental screening of the activities is based on recent and up-to-date information Labour and Working Conditions YES NO TBD Will the activities potentially have impacts on the working conditions, particularly the terms of employment, worker’s organization, non- ☐ ☒ ☐ discrimination, equal opportunity, child labour, and forced labour of direct, contracted and third-party workers? The proposed activities will not involve any discrimination. Instead, the project will favour most vulnerable groups that experience various forms of discriminations such as women, landless farmers, etc. Will the activities pose occupational health and safety ☐ ☒ ☐ Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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risks to workers including supply chain workers? Project activities will not pose any particular occupational health and safety risks to workers. The project will be implemented in strict compliance of local legislation and human right, both prohibiting forced labor. Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention YES NO TBD Will the activities generate (1) emissions to air; (2) discharges to water; (3) activity-related greenhouse ☐ ☒ ☐ gas (GHG) emissions, (4) noise and vibration; and (5) wastes? Sustainable water and soil conservation practices that the project will promote are known to not generate emissions to air, discharge to water, GHG emissions, noise and vibration and wastes. Will the activities utilize significant amount of natural ☐ ☒ ☐ resources including water and energy? Amount of water required for small scale and precision irrigation will be insignificant (0,25 ha irrigation scheme per locality). Will there be a need to develop detailed measures to reduce pollution and promote sustainable use of ☐ ☒ ☐ resources? No measures to reduce pollution and promote sustainable use of resources will be needed Community Health, Safety, and Security YES NO TBD Will the activities potentially generate risks and impacts to the health and safety of the affected ☐ ☒ ☐ communities? The activities will not generate any risk and impact to the health and safety of the affected communities Will there be a need for an emergency preparedness and response plan that also outlines how the affected ☐ ☒ ☐ communities will be assisted in times of emergency? An emergency preparedness and response plan will not be needed, given the types activities the project will implement. However, an environmental notice will be developed as to inform the management of any risk that may occur during the project implementation. Will there be risks posed by the security arrangements and potential conflicts at the project ☐ ☒ ☐ site to the workers and affected community? No security and conflict risks are identified in the project area to workers and affected communities Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement YES NO TBD Will the activities likely involve land acquisition and/or ☐ ☒ ☐ physical or economic displacement? The project will not require any land expropriation/acquisition or land grabbing, population displacement and/or reallocation of ownership rights of the local populations on lands and natural resources. The technologies will be implemented on the lands own by farmers themselves Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable YES NO TBD Management of Living Natural Resources Will the activities potentially introduce invasive alien species of flora and fauna affecting the biodiversity of ☐ ☒ ☐ the area? None of the project activities will involve introducing invasive alien species of flora and fauna that may affect the biodiversity. Seeds and plant cultivars that will be promoted sourced from project areas and/or developed by local research institutions, and are known for not being invasive. Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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Will the activities have potential impacts on or be dependent on ecosystem services including ☐ ☒ ☐ production of living natural resources (eg.agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry)? Sustainable water and soil conservation practices that the project will promote are known for being environmental-friendly, and therefore will not have any negative impacts on ecosystem services including production of living natural resources. Indigenous Peoples YES NO TBD Will the activities potentially have any indirect impacts on indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities, or ☐ ☒ ☐ vulnerable and marginalized groups? The project will not have negative impacts on local communities. Instead, it will contribute to improving the livelihoods of the beneficiaries, with a strong focus on vulnerable or marginalized groups such as women, subsistence farmers, landless and less-resource endowed farmers. Cultural Heritage YES NO TBD Will the activities restrict access to the cultural ☐ ☒ ☐ heritage sites and properties? None of the project activities will restrict access to the cultural heritage sites and properties Will there be a need to prepare a chance-find procedure in case of the discovery of cultural heritage ☐ ☒ ☐ assets? Required actions and measures will be taken in respect with local legislation in the case of the discovery of cultural heritage assets. Stakeholder engagement and grievance redress YES NO TBD Will the activities include a continuing stakeholder engagement procress and a grievance redress ☒ ☐ ☐ mechanism and integrated into the management/implementation plans? Conflicts and complains will be managed in line with the principles of grievance management mechanisms developed by FNEC in compliance with GCF requirements

Part C: Sign Off

Sign-off: Specify the name and designation of the person responsible for the environmental and social screening and any other approvals as may be required in the accredited entity’s own management system.

BIAOU MATHIEU, Vice president of Expert Committee in charge of Environmental and Social Monitoring and Gender Approach (CESESAG)