The Cotonou Stormwater Drainage Programme, initiated by the Government of Benin, complements the road asphalting and household waste management modernization programmes of Grand-Nokoue. The Support Project for the Cotonou Stormwater Drainage Programme (PAPC) is the AfDB's contribution to the implementation of the Cotonou Stormwater Drainage Programme. The overall programme, which stems from the city's Stormwater Drainage Master Plan, is expected to be implemented over a period of six years, four of which will be devoted to the implementation of the components financed by the Bank. The total cost of the programme is EUR 397.63 million, including EUR 61.00 million from the Bank. The PAPC will cover the 6th and 10th districts of the Cotonou Municipality. It will mainly involve: (1) the construction of a 220,500 cubic-metre retention basin; (2) the construction of 33,140 linear metres of collectors and gutters; (3) the construction and paving of 12,220 linear metres of road; (4) the reconstruction and equipping of: (i) the Benin School for the Deaf; (ii) Vedoko 2 Government Primary School; and (iii) a community health centre laboratory; (5) capacity-building for the Cotonou City Council (logistics and training) and for women and youths; and (6) awareness-raising for behaviour change to reduce flood risks and promote adaptation to climate change in Cotonou.

The main objective of the programme is to reduce the population's vulnerability to floods, promote the construction of socio-economic infrastructure and kick-start Benin's economic and social development. The specific objectives are to: (i) limit flooding, which causes damage to nearby houses and infrastructure, and standing water in the city; (ii) ensure water drainage to improve health conditions; (iii) inform, educate and communicate with the population on hygiene, waste, sanitation and the implementation of the programme; and (iv) improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of many poor neighbourhoods through the construction of related urban facilities.

The direct programme beneficiaries are 785 278 inhabitants, 400 392 of them women, of the city of Cotonou, particularly the inhabitants of the neighbourhoods drained by the Qc and Pa2 collectors estimated at 99 315. The programme-affected population, which will be compensated, is 1,766 persons. The other programme beneficiaries will be the users of feeder roads in various neighbourhoods and carriers for whom many streets will be graded and paved, thus facilitating movement.

N'ZOMBIE Zounoubaté

z.nzombie@afdb.org

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF AfDB

The Independent Review Mechanism (IRM), which is administered by the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU), is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an African Development Bank (AfDB)-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the IRM, it may assist you by either seeking to address your problems by facilitating a dispute resolution dialogue between you and those implementing the project and/or investigating whether the AfDB complied with its policies to prevent environmental and social harms. You can submit a complaint electronically by emailing crmuinfo@afdb.org, b.kargougou@afdb.org, b.fall@afdb.org, and/or s.toure@afdb.org. You can learn more about the IRM and how to file a complaint at https://www.afdb.org/en/independent-review-mechanism/.