Benin and IFAD sign $37 million agreement to create youth jobs
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The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the government of Benin signed a $37.1 million funding agreement to support the Agricultural Professional Integration and Entrepreneurship Support Project (ProPEA).
The eight year initiative aims to provide rural youth with technical skills to create decent jobs and build resilient agricultural businesses. The project combines vocational training and entrepreneurship support with access to consulting services, financing, insurance, and productive partnerships.
It focuses on high growth sectors including agriculture, aquaculture, and poultry farming while helping business owners manage climate risks. The project will support approximately 50,000 rural households, affecting more than 360,000 people across various agricultural development hubs in the country. Young people will make up 60% of the participants, with a specific focus on including women and people with disabilities. By 2033, the initiative intends to create 21,000 jobs for young people.
The total project cost is $149.1 million, involving IFAD, the Benin government, development partners, and the private sector.
