Strengthening the Resilience of Vulnerable Family Farms to Climate Change in the Fourth Agricultural Development Pole in

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Benin FNEC

4 March 2020 Strengthening the Resilience of Vulnerable Family Farms to Climate Project/Programme title: Change in the Fourth Agricultural Development Pole in Benin Country(ies): Benin National Designated Ministry of Living Environment and Sustainable Development Authority(ies) (NDA): Executing Entities: Ministère de l', de l'Elevage et de la Pêche (MAEP), GIZ

Accredited Entity(ies) (AE): Fonds National pour L'Environnement Date of first submission/ 3/4/2020 3 V.1 version number: Date of current submission/ 3/4/2020 3 V.1 version number A. Project / Programme Information (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: 50% ☒ Health and well-being, and food and security: 50% ☐ Infrastructure and built environment: 0% ☐ Ecosystem and ecosystem services: 0%

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 894,000,405.6 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: 9,944,941 Currency: USD Financial Instrument: Grants 10M)

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

A.6.3. Indicative total project cost (GCF + co- Amount: 11,149,942 Currency: USD finance) disbursement A.6. Estimated duration of period: 5 A.7.2. Estimated project/ 60 project/ programme: repayment period, if Programme 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? ☐ Project interventions will consist in the implementation of water and soil A.10. Provide rationale for conservation measures, the restoration of degraded farmlands, the the ESS categorization promotion of alternative farming systems to slash-and-burn shifting (100 words) cultivation and the setting up of an effective mechanism for integrating adaptation monitoring and evaluation in the national agricultural extension Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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system. Thus, 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. The landscape approach that takes into account rural land plans will be the basis of the implementation of the project to ensure that the interventions do not lead to unsustainable changes and allocations of land and ecosystems A.11. Has the CN been ☒ Yes ☐ Confidential A.12. Confidentiality shared with the NDA? ☐ No ☒ Not confidential 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.13. Project/Programme duration, as well as more recurrent and severe 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 adoption of climate-resilient agricultural production practices, ii) implementation of climate smart and sustainable yam and cashew production systems, and iii) improving the management/governance of climate related risks and information for adaptation of the agricultural sector B. Project / Programme details B.1. Context and Baseline (500 words) Biophysical impacts of climate change in Benin: 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 have been observed[2],[3],[4]. With a global temperature increase of 1.5°C in the future[5], 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 rainfall5,[6] with an increase in the number of years with a shortfall in precipitation5. Extreme events such as , droughts and excessive heat waves will also become more frequent and intense in Benin[7]. Studies have shown that in the absence of adaptation measures, climate change will lead to a significant loss of arable land[8] due to extreme temperatures, excessive rainfall, and degradation of topography and soil quality[9]. 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[10]. By deducing rainfall and 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: The physical changes described above will strongly impact economic and Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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social systems and increase the vulnerability of populations, whose living conditions are already precarious8. Benin's economy relies mainly on rainfed agriculture[11]. 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[12]. It provides more than 75% of export revenue and accounts for 15% of national revenue15. This heavy dependence on the rainfed agriculture makes the country particularly vulnerable to the 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 cereal and tuber production will be strongly affected by climate change5,[13],[14], 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[15]) and the upper Ouémé Valley17. Climate change may also induce a considerable decline in cereal yields (maize, rice, sorghum) up to 17% and 30% respectively by 2050[16] and 20805,16. Further decrease in food production is also expected from the negative effects of global warming on basic agricultural resources namely soil, water and biodiversity[17]. Increased temperatures and excessive heat waves will increase the risk of wildfires, a factor of crop destruction including cashew plantations. Declining rainfall and/or rising temperatures will negatively affect farm income[18],[19]. Estimates suggest that a 10% increase in temperatures would reduce net faPeople'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,[1]. 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[2]. Extreme events, occurring more and more frequently, 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 people9. This constitutes a factor aggravating food insecurity and , especially among women and young people who are the main actors in agricultural production, noting that women are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than men because of their roles in society. 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 seasons3, and the emergence of new crop diseases and pests[3]. 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 floods.

Alignment with political priorities and policies: 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 Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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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.

Vulnerability factors and barriers to adaptation:. the vulnerability analysis carried out in the project area clearly established the level of exposure and high sensitivity of agricultural production factors to climate change. The communities depends on rainfed and low-productive agriculture. Agricultural production is based on small-scale farms with little equipment and on the use of unsustainable and environmentally unfriendly techniques[1]. Less than 5% of agricultural land is irrigated13, and the use of fertilizers and high-yielding seeds is very reduced for staple-food crops13. The results of the study show a significant interannual variability in precipitation with a slightly decreasing trend. The results also show an interannual variability of the average temperatures (from 27 to 29° C) with a clear upward tendency in the PDA4. The studies emphasize that the municipalities of N'Dali, Pèrèrè and Nikki are the most exposed while the Communes of and are the least exposed to climatic hazards. On the other hand, the Municipalities most sensitive to hazards are those of Savalou and Dassa-Zoume and the least sensitive are those of Ouaké, Bantè and . When the indices of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity are aggregated, the Communes of Savalou, , Dassa-Zoumè, Glazoué and Copargo are the most vulnerable to climate change. Compared with the assessment of future vulnerability to climate change in the agriculture sector, the results of the simulations show a significant interannual variability in the simulated precipitation by 2050. The number of years with deficit precipitation will increase in the future, with the municipalities of Copargo, and Ouaké who will be the most affected regardless of the model considered. Simulation results indicate an increase in mean temperature by 2050 over the entire study area regardless of the model considered. As a result of climate change, yields of corn and cotton could decrease significantly, by up to 30% for corn and 20% for cotton.

Exacerbated by climate variability and change, extensive and unsustainable agriculture practices still prevail in the PDA424 (the project intervention area), and this constitutes a factor of rapid deforestation and degradation of land and ecosystems. The production of yam, for example, is based on slash-and-burn shifting cultivation, which causes a rapid and large scale deforestation24. The sustainability of the cashew production, the main cash crop of the PDA4 and Benin's second largest export crop, is threatened by the severity of the Harmattan, excessive heat, wildfires, lack of humidity and poor agricultural practices3. PDA4 is identified as a priority land degradation hotspot in Benin[1]. The extension system at the PDA4 as well as at the national level does not sufficiently integrate climate information to facilitate adaptation and build farmers' capacity for a climate-resilient agriculture. The poor effectiveness of climate-resilient and high-yielding seeds production and supply system and the lack of access to climate information also limit the ability of people to prepare for and recover from the impacts of climate change. Given its high agricultural potential and its geographical position, the Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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PDA4 is an area of high agricultural migration and transhumance from other regions of the country, and this increases tensions and conflicts over limited resources, and accelerates the deforestation due to agricultural production. These conditions increase the people's vulnerability while limiting their ability to make the changes needed to adapt and cope with the impacts of climate change

[1] LDN-TSP, 2017. Land Degradation Neutrality Targets Setting Programme. UNCCD.

[1] 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

[1] Schmidhuber, J. and Tubiello, F.N. 2007. Global under climate change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104, 19703-19708 [2] 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. [3] Patterson DT, Westbrook JK, Joyce RJV, Lingren PD, Rogasik J. Weeds, insects, and diseases. Climatic Change 1999;43(4):711-27 rm income by 13%[20].

[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]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 [6]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. [7]Porter, J.R. and M.A. Semenov, 2005. Crop responses to climatic variation. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 360(1463), 2021-2035 [8] Lotsch, A. (2007). Sensitivity of cropping patterns in Africa to Transient Climate Change. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 4289. World Bank, Washington DC. [9] 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 [10] Fischer G., Shah M., Tubiello F. N. and van Velhuizen H. (2005). Socio-Economic and Climate Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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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 [11]Source : Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Elevage et de la Pêche (MAEP) [12] 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. [13] 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 [14] 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 [15] PDA4: Pole de Developpement Agricole 4 (Fourth Agricultural Development Pole) [16] Jones, P. G., and Thornton, P. K. 2003. The potential impacts of climate change on maize production in Africa and in 2055. Global Environmental Change 13 (2003) 51-59 [17] 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. [18] 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. [19] 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 [20] 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. B.2. Project / Programme description (1000 words) Promoting sustainable production systems focusing on the main crops grown at local level , building technical farmers capacity for adaptation and upscaling the adoption of water and soil conservation (WSC) and soil fertility management practices are the main technical options to strengthen people's resilience to the impacts of climate change in the PDA4, the project intervention area (see map in annex 2). PDA4 is one of the largest production areas of several food and cash crops of great social and economic importance to the country, namely yam, cotton, cashew and maize. About 70, 20 and 80% of the national yam, maize and cashew production respectively are produced in this area. Strengthening the resilience of agricultural production systems of the PDA4 is therefore necessary for the resilience not only of local communities, but also for the whole country and national economy. The project will support small-scale farms as follows:

Component 1: Climate smart technologies for resilient agriculture are adopted by women and men at large scale · Adopt Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM - e.g., manure management, composting, micro dosing, as well as use of improvement plants, association/rotation systems and natural soil improvers); · Promote soil and water conservation at farm level (mulching, crop covers, zai and other water Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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harvesting techniques); · Promote mixed and integrated tree-livestock-crop systems; · Promote varieties of maize and other food crops adapted to water stress and important for food security; · Establish a system of seed production at the village level of improved plants/varieties adapted to climate stress; · Acquire and implement small scale precision equipment and materials (solar pumps, point/drip irrigation systems, etc.).

Component 2: Climate resilient yam and cashew production systems are implemented sustainably so that ecosystems are protected and land degradation is prevented · Promote climate smart yam production systems through integrated cropping systems; · Implement a multiplication of yam seedlings; · Train women and men farmers and technicians in climate-resilient yam production; · Rehabilitate cashew plantations through the adoption of half-moon techniques and thinning; · Implementgrafted cashew plants; build communities capacity on grafting techniques and others. Component 3: Improved management and risk governance is in place and professional information on climate resilient agricultural practices are available and disseminated · Establish and operate an integrated climate risk information mechanism for producers; · Acquire and operate synoptic meteorological equipment at Météo-Benin; · Implement a national and decentralized GIS based land use and LDN monitoring system · conduct communication campaigns for behavior change (CCC) for producers, local authorities and other stakeholders;; · Elaborate and implement a CC adaptation M&E mechanism tied to the existing system; The proposed project design takes into account the experiences and lessons learnt of other projects, such as: · Well-known technologies already tested against several pilot and scaling experiments conducted in the frame of the BMZ-funded project Soil Protection and Rehabilitation of Degraded Soil for Food Security (ProSOL). · Beneficiary's interest in ISFM and SWC practices[1]. · Existence of an effective institutional mechanism for the dissemination of technologies and the implementation of activities: The project will be implemented under the technical responsibility of the MAEP, which has significant human and material resources in place to facilitate the immediate implementation of project activities[2].

Further, the project design aims at scaling up the achievements of relevant previous projects in the PDA 4, such as: · Soil Protection and Rehabilitation of Degraded Soil for Food Security (ProSOL), GIZ · Inter-communal Project Supporting Sustainable Land Management and Adaptation to Climate Change in the (PAGDT-C) · Forest and Adjacent Lands Management Program (PGFTR), (GEF, World Bank ) · Incorporation of Sacred Forest into the Protected Areas System of Benin (PIFSAP), (GEF, UNDP, US, 2011-2017) · Commune Forests Management Support Project (PAGEFCOM), (Phase 1: 2007-2014) Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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· Commune Forests Management Support Project (PAGEFCOM), (Phase 2: 2017-2022) · Project Adaptation of the Agriculture to Climate Change (PACC), (GIZ, 2015-2020) · Integrated Adaptation Programme to Combat the Effects of Climate Change on Agricultural Production and Food Security in Benin (PANA-Agriculture), (GEF, UNDP, 2010-2014) · Enhanced climate resilience of rural communities in central and north Benin through the implementation of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in forest and agricultural landscapes, (GCF, UNEP) · Program for Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin (PIDACC / NB), (GCF, AfDB, EU, GEF, FIP)

Costs and benefits of the proposed ISFM and Soil &Water Conservation (SWC) technologies are well documented[3]: · Improvement of soil fertility[4],[5] and increase of agricultural yields and production29,[6],[7], which are necessary for food security and the fight against poverty[8]. · Increase in agricultural income, with a cost-benefit ratio of 2-15 in West African setting9 . · Mitigation and agricultural emission reductions through increasing organic carbon in soils, reducing the use of fertilizers and combating deforestation29,30. · Strengthened resilience and reduced vulnerability through the collection, retention and infiltration of water at the plot scale; maintenance of to combat droughts, scarcity of rainfall or shortening rainy seasons30,[9]. · Land restoration and biodiversity: Combat erosion and sediment loss, improve biodiversity and soil quality[10].

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

Executing entity:The project will be executed by the technical units of the MAEP along with technical assistance from GIZ (assistance et to be confirmed). Components 1 and 2 will be executed by the Agence Terrritorial du Développemnt Agricole (ATDA4). Part of the activities will be carried out by NGOs and other local entities namely the Groupe Inter communal des Collines (GIC), the Association pour de Développement de la Commune du Borgou (ADECOB), and producers organizations in order to ensure the ownership and strong participation of beneficiaries in the implementation of activities. 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 i.e. the Direction Générale de l'Environnement et du Climat (DGEC) of the Ministère du Cadre de Vie et du Développement Durable (MCVDD), the Centre National de la Télédetection (CENATEL) and Météo-Bénin. Local communities Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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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.

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

Project Management Unit (PMU): Coordination and project monitoring will be provided by the 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 Mitigation measures

Poor institutional implementation mechanism Inclusive SC to ensure quick involvement of partners; Functioning & responsive FNEC-PMU link; adequate gender action plan.

Poor participation of stakeholders and target groups 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.

Governance and fiduciary risks Adequate training in procurement, accounting, financial management reporting, grievance/redress mechanism for FNEC and PMU staff

Difficulties in mobilizing national project co-finance Government co-finance to be integrated in the ATDA4 budget Part of contribution is in-kind: MAEP/ATDA4 personnel, offices, equipment

[1] L'évaluation des projets ProSOL et PAGDT-C a montré un grand intérêt et une forte acceptabilité des petites exploitations agricoles par rapport aux technologies de GIFS et CES. Ce qui constitue une condition suffisante pour une adoption rapide et massive de ces technologies. Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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[2] 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. [3] 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. [4] 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. [5] 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. [6] 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. [7] 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. [8] 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 [9] 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. [10] 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 project results aligned with the GCF investment criteria (500 words) 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. · 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 cashew nut crops, the project will contribute significantly to economic stability and food security, including the poorest population segments like women-headed households. 70%, 20% and 80% of yam, maize and cashew supply respectively are produced today in the project intervention area. Paradigm shift · The project will result in a large-scale implementation of climate-resilient technology & production packages by replicating and scaling up successful and tested approaches under ProSOL and other national/regional projects[1]. · The project will systematically train producers and other stakeholders in sustainable climate- resilient agriculture, therefore disseminate know-how based on best practices and achieve informed and improved production. · The project will ensure strong gender equality, inclusiveness, accountability and transparency in Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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land use. · Project activity implementation will be decentralized and include state actors to increase project ownership and sustainability, e.g., as opposed to NGO approaches where entities and expertise tend to disappear after project end. · New climate-resilient varieties will be introduced and multiplied and yam growing systems sedentarized, representing innovations that will result in lasting behavioural change in agricultural production. · A paradigm shift in cropland management from "degrade>abandon>migrate" to "Avoid>reduce>restore" will be achieved. · The project will mainstream adaptation into Benin's agricultural development policies (climate risk system; M&E). 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. Needs of recipients · Benin is an LDC, ranking 163 of 189 in HDI and with an agriculture-based economy (70% of labor force 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 -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 · 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. 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 Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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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. Efficiency and effectiveness · The project will build on and use best practices developed and tested in numerous previous projects (ProSOL, etc.).and ecosystems;

[1] Protection and Rehabilitation of Soils to Improve Food Security (ProSOL), (GIZ); Intercommunal Project Supporting Sustainable Land Management and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Hills Department (PAGDT-C); Management Program for Forests and Terroirs Riverains (PGFTR), (GEF, World Bank, 2007-2013, $ 22.35 million); Sacred Forest Integration Project in the Protected Area System of Benin (PIFSAP), (GEF, UNDP, US, 2011-2017, US $ 10,109,860); Communal Forests Management Support Project (PAGEFCOM), (Phase 1: 2007-2014, ~ US $ 66.9 million 45, Phase 2: US $ 12.9 million, 2017-2022) [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. C. Indicative financing / Cost 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: Large- scale adoption of MAEP, climate 5,225,290 4,787,965 Grant Public 437,325 Grant FNEC smart technologies for resilient agriculture Component 2 Implementati on of climate 2,801,83 MAEP 3,220,650 Grant Public 418,820 Grant resilient yam 0 FNEC and cashew production systems Component 3: Better managemen 1,807,27 MAEP t & risk 1,926,100 Grant Public 118,830 Grant 0 FNEC governance as well as relevant Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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information available Project MAEP managemen 777,903 547,876 Grant Public 230,027 Grant FNEC t

Indicative total cost (USD) 11,149,943 9,944,941 1,205,002

For private sector proposal, provide an overview (diagram) of the proposed financing structure. C.2. Justification of GCF Funding Request (300 words) 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 contributed 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 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 pronounced 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 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) 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 Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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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. 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. 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 permanent state entities, namely the ATDA4 and the MAEP's technical units. 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 support system. The project will facilitate activities of exchange and sharing of experiences and knowledge between the technical units of the ATDA4 and the ATDAs 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 ATDA4's supervisory staff, 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. C.4 Stakeholders engagement in the project or programme (300 words) 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 made it possible 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 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 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 Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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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. D. Annexes

☒ 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? No project activity targets associated facilities and will not require additional vigilance Will the activities involve trans-boundary impacts including those that would require further due diligence and notification to affected ☐ ☒ states? No project activity will require cross-border impacts Will the activities adversely affect working conditions and health and safety of workers or potentially employ vulnerable categories of ☐ ☒ workers including women and children? The project activities will be carried out in accordance with the texts in force and will have no impact on the elements mentioned 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? No project activity will generate hazardous waste or the products listed 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? The project does not aim at building infrastructure Will the activities potentially involve resettlement and dispossession, land acquisition, and economic displacement of ☐ ☒ persons and communities? 6- activities do not require resettlement 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? 7- activities will not be carried out in areas of ecological concern or in protected areas Will the activities affect indigenous peoples that would require further due diligence, free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) and ☐ ☒ documentation of development plans? No project activities will not affect indigenous people 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 Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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critical cultural heritage? 9- No activity will be carried out in an area considered to have archaeological (prehistoric), paleontological, historical, cultural, artistic and religious value or comprising characteristics considered to be a critical cultural heritage

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? No No requirement is necessary Are the identification of risks and impacts based on ☒ ☐ ☐ recent or up-to-date information? Document used to identify risks and impact are 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 activities envisaged will have no impact on working conditions, in particular conditions of employment, organization of workers, non-discrimination, equal opportunities, child labor and forced labor of direct workers, contractual and third parties Will the activities pose occupational health and safety ☐ ☒ ☐ risks to workers including supply chain workers? The proposed activities pose no risk to health and safety at work for workers, including supply chain workers? 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? The activities will not generate (1) air emissions; (2) releases to water; (3) activity-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; and (5) waste Will the activities utilize significant amount of natural ☐ ☒ ☐ resources including water and energy? Activities will not abuse natural resources, including water and energy Will there be a need to develop detailed measures to reduce pollution and promote sustainable use of ☐ ☒ ☐ resources? Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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There will be no need to develop detailed measures to reduce pollution and promote the sustainable use of resources in relation to the proposed activities 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? Project activities will not generate any potential risks and impacts on the health and safety of 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 that also describes how affected communities will be assisted in an emergency is not required for this project Will there be risks posed by the security arrangements and potential conflicts at the project ☐ ☒ ☐ site to the workers and affected community? No risk Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement YES NO TBD Will the activities likely involve land acquisition and/or ☐ ☒ ☐ physical or economic displacement? No voluntary transactions will be observed 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? No activity will introduce invasive exotic species of flora and fauna affecting the biodiversity of the area 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)? Activities will have no potential impact on or depend on ecosystem services, including the 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? No indirect impact will be observed on indigenous peoples Cultural Heritage YES NO TBD Will the activities restrict access to the cultural ☐ ☒ ☐ heritage sites and properties? No activity will not 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? It's not necessary Stakeholder engagement and grievance redress Yes NO TBD Will the activities include a continuing stakeholder ☒ ☐ ☐ Simplified Approval Process CONCEPT NOTE Template V.1.1

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engagement procress and a grievance redress mechanism and integrated into the management/implementation plans? Activities are included stakeholder engagement procress and a grievance redress mechanism and integrated into the management/implementation plans

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 Président Of Expert Committee responsible for Environmental and Social Monitoring and the Gender Approach The committee has approuved this screnning.