Introduction
Benin was one of the first countries in the region with environmental codes that contained E(S)IA provisions. The decree of 2001 firstly defined the ESIA procedures and introduced SEA in the legislation. The Agence Béninoise pour l’Environnement (ABE), the current ESIA agency, had been established even earlier. A rather complete body of legal texts and manuals was in place, and ESIA (for private sector investments) became a widely accepted practice. Around 2010, however, the ESIA system was losing strength: funding for ABE decreased, while simultaneously political leadership seemed to have lost its attention for ESIA.
In May 2015, the Council of Ministers of Benin approved an updated Decree on Environmental Assessment. In 2017, a renewed decree on Environmental Assessment procedures was published.
News

Webpages | 26-11-2020
Publication: 10 cases of the SRJS programme!
In a new publication, the NCEA together with SRJS presents an overview of ten cases on ESIA and SEA in landscape management, from ten countries across…

Webpages | 27-08-2019
Harmonisation Environmental Assessment systems in West Africa
The NCEA organises on Sept. 11, a joint session on harmonisation of environmental assessment systems in West Africa

Webpages | 20-12-2016
ESIA for deep sea port in Benin
In November 2016, the Beninese Environment Agency organised an inter-ministerial meeting to discuss the ESIA that would permit the development of a new…

Webpages | 02-11-2016
MoU for cooperation programme Benin
A new cooperation programme for capacity development and independent review of environmental assessments has been started in Benin. In September 2016,…

Webpages | 02-05-2016
Advisory review: ESIA for Sèmè-Podji port, Benin
The NCEA reviewed the ESIA for the construction of the Sèmè-Podji deep sea port in Benin. In its advice, it concludes that the ESIA meets…

Webpages | 09-06-2015
EIA for deep sea port in Benin
In June 2015, an NCEA working group visited Benin to advise about the scope for an EIA for a deep sea port. The port will be located 10 km east of…

Webpages | 09-06-2015
Benin’s Council of Ministers accepts new Environmental Assessment Decree
On 24 May 2015, the Council of Ministers of Benin has accepted a proposal for a new Decree on Environmental Assessment. The proposal offers a coherent…

Webpages | 02-04-2015
Multi-annual cooperation with EIA agency Benin
On March 20, 2015, the NCEA and the EIA agency of Benin (ABE) signed an aide-mémoire. This is the first step towards a three-year cooperation…

Webpages | 04-11-2014
Better safety measures for transboundary Adjarala dam
The NCEA reviewed the ESIA for a hydro-electric dam that is planned at Adjarala, at the border between Benin and Togo. The development of the dam is…

Webpages | 05-06-2014
NCEA on TV news show in Benin
Mr. Sibout Nooteboom of the NCEA was a guest on the morning news show on the environment in Benin. The news show starts with a short overview of EIA…

Webpages | 11-02-2014
EIA mapping in Benin, interesting results
Cotonou,Benin. The NCEA, together with the Beninese Environmental Agency’s and the Beninese Association for Environmental Assessment…

Webpages | 11-02-2014
Advisory report EIA oil production Benin
The NCEA, upon request by the Beninese Environmental Agency (ABE), reviewed the draft EIA report for the development of oil production by the…

Webpages | 09-12-2013
Results of the EIA mapping workshops in West African countries
Conakry, 5-6 December 2013. The West African Association of Environmental Assessment organised a regional workshop to discuss strengths and…