Benin - First Phase of Dogo-Bis Multipurpose Dam Project

Overview & Synopsis

Dogo-Bis Multipurpose Dam Project Phase 1 for Benin has the development objectives to strengthen national capacity and readiness to build the multifunction Dogo-Bis dam and to improve access to socio-economic services and infrastructure for communities in the project area. Component 1: Early works and no-regrets socio-economic investments will deliver priority local benefits and de-risk future construction through Sub-component 1.1 Construction of access roads, which will build or rehabilitate approximately 147 km of climate-resilient site and community access to facilitate logistics and reduce delays; Sub-component 1.2 Rural electrification, which will extend medium and low voltage lines and install distribution transformers and public lighting to provide new or improved grid connections for households, businesses, and public facilities in 23 localities; and Sub-component 1.3 Social infrastructure, which will construct, rehabilitate, or equip schools, health centers, markets, sanitation facilities, multipurpose sports fields, housing, and local authority buildings selected through participatory processes and built to climate-resilient standards. Component 2: Technical studies and project structuring for the Dogo-Bis Program will prepare bankable designs and reduce technical and environmental and social risks through Sub-component 2.1 Technical studies and environmental and social risk management, which will update and complete feasibility work, prepare preliminary and detailed engineering designs and bidding documents, conduct hydrological, solar, irrigation, dam safety, and climate assessments, and prepare Environmental and Social Impact Assessments and Resettlement Action Plans, as well as forestry and ecotourism studies; and Sub-component 2.2 Preliminary project structuring, which will develop the legal, financial, and commercial framework, including financial modeling, market sounding, regulatory reviews, risk allocation principles, and Public Private Partnership options to enhance bankability while safeguarding affordability. Component 3: Involuntary resettlement and livelihood restoration will finance compensation and support implementation of Resettlement Action Plans for early works and provide livelihood restoration planning and capacity building to ensure fair outcomes for Project-Affected Persons and host communities. Component 4: Project implementation and oversight will strengthen execution and quality assurance through Sub-component 4.1 Project management, coordination, and fiduciary functions, which will operationalize and staff the Project Implementation Unit and support monitoring, procurement, financial management, and audits; and Sub-component 4.2 Independent oversight and capacity strengthening, which will establish an Independent Panel of Experts on dam safety and an Independent Panel of Experts on environmental and social aspects, and provide targeted training in hydrology, dam safety, solar energy, climate modeling, irrigation engineering, and hybrid renewable systems with a strong focus on women’s participation.