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The LoCAL Benin project is a scaling-up of a pilot initiative designed to empower 25 local governments in four vulnerable departments (Atacora, Alibori, Donga, and Mono) to implement climate-resilient investments. The programme addresses institutional, technical, and financial barriers by providing capacity building, technical assistance, and Performance-Based Climate Resilience Grants (PBCRG). These grants, totaling approximately USD 6.48 million, will fund roughly 110 small-scale investments in sectors such as climate-adapted agriculture, water management, and coastal protection. The project targets 2.68 million total beneficiaries, with a strong focus on women and the most vulnerable populations, to integrate climate resilience into local development planning and budgeting.

The report identifies deep-seated patriarchal norms in Benin that limit women's access to land, education, and financial resources, thereby increasing their vulnerability to climate change. It notes that while Benin has a strong legal framework for gender equality, climate-specific policies often lack gender integration. The LoCAL programme aims to address these gaps by mainstreaming gender in local governance and using the Women Economic Empowerment Index (WEEI) to prioritize resilient investments in four specific departments.

The report analyzes the intersection of gender and climate change adaptation in Benin, highlighting how patriarchal land tenure and social roles increase women's vulnerability. It identifies institutional gaps in the current NAP process and provides specific recommendations for gender-responsive adaptation in agriculture, water, health, and other priority sectors.