• $200M to modernize transport in Grand-Nokoué and serve up to 360,000 users

• Project to professionalize informal operators and boost job creation

• Part of Benin’s $9.7B multimodal transport strategy through 2030

Benin will receive $200 million in funding from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) to improve urban mobility in Grand-Nokoué. The initiative aims to create a secure, reliable, and environmentally friendly public transport system to support fast-growing urban areas.

The Grand-Nokoué Sustainable Mobility Project will target five municipalities—Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Sèmè-Podji, Abomey-Calavi, and Ouidah. The project focuses on building a multimodal transport network that is safe, inclusive, and climate-resilient, with both bus and boat services initially serving 270,000 people and later scaling to 360,000 passengers per day.

A key component involves formalizing the informal transport sector by integrating operators such as Zémidjan motorcycle taxis and Tokpa Tokpa minibuses. The goal is to improve service quality, efficiency, and job conditions while promoting cleaner transportation.

The initiative is part of a broader national transformation. In April 2025, Benin approved a $9.7 billion strategic plan for 2025–2029 through its Ministry of Life and Transport. The strategy envisions a clean, green, and interconnected transport system by 2030, positioning infrastructure as a catalyst for development.

Despite past investments in road improvements, cities like Cotonou and Porto-Novo continue to face traffic congestion and limited transport diversity. Rapid urbanization in Grand-Nokoué has further heightened vulnerability to climate shocks and poverty.

According to Nestor Coffi, World Bank Operations Manager for Benin, the project will unlock economic potential, enhance productivity, and promote social and environmental sustainability. It is also expected to support e-mobility development and innovation-driven job creation.

The World Bank estimates the project will generate a net 17,000 jobs from fleet renewal and the e-mobility ecosystem, along with 800 jobs in transport services and 1,000 in infrastructure construction. Moreover, 65,000 Zémidjan drivers will benefit from improved social protection and working conditions.

Ultimately, the project is intended to raise competitiveness and improve access to employment for the 2.8 million residents of Grand-Nokoué. The World Bank emphasizes that ongoing modernization of road and port infrastructure is essential to transform Benin’s economy and improve overall quality of life.