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Benin is situated in West Africa along the Guinea Coast (latitudes 6-13° N) stretching 672 km from north to south and running 124 km along the Gulf of Guinea nestled in the Atlantic Ocean. Burkina Faso and the Republic of Niger border Benin to the North, while the Federal Republic of Nigeria lays to the East, and the Republic of Togo its neighbor to the west. The country of Benin is primarily flat with the exception of the Atacora Mountains rising along the northeastern border with the Republic of Togo. Two major river basins, the Niger and coastal basin, enrich the country with ample waterways. Of the 10 million people living in Benin, nearly 70% of the workforce earns a living through the agriculture sector, explaining 32% of GDP. Cotton is the main export commodity, comprising about 25-40% of all exports. Re-export trade with Nigeria is also an important sector to the national economy, making up almost 20% of GDP. Economic growth was below the Sub Saharan Africa average, at 3.1% per year compared to 4.6% per year over 2009-2012. Benin’s economy remains largely undiversified and extremely vulnerable to external shocks and changes in trade policies, especially with Nigeria. Poverty levels are high with 35% of the population living below subsistence levels and the country ranks 166 out of 187 on the Human Development Report in 2013. Benin has made progress on its Millennium Development Goals, but is unlikely to meet most of the objectives by 2015. Key development challenges include agricultural diversification, improved agricultural productivity, economic diversification, and improving basic access to services, most notably in the areas of public health, education, and sanitation. Environmental degradation continues to deteriorate steadily, in part due to rapid population growth (2.9%) and unsustainable use of natural resources. Climate change is expected to exacerbate challenges in agriculture such as water mismanagement, forestry, and public health (infectious diseases). Priority adaptation strategies seek to minimize the effects of sea level rise, establish forecasting methods for climate risk, create early warning systems for food security, promote renewable energy, and protect women and children against malaria.
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