Thursday, July 10, 2025, Cotonou, Benin – The Government of Benin, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), officially launched Benin’s national implementation of the Africa Minigrids Program (AMP). The ceremony took place at the Bénin Royal Hôtel de Cotonou, attended by institutional actors, technical and financial partners, energy operators, local elected officials, and representatives of rural communities.
Led by the Société Béninoise de Production d’Électricité (SBPE), the AMP aims to install hybrid minigrids powered by photovoltaic solar energy in areas not yet connected to the national grid. This initiative represents a major step toward reducing energy inequalities, stimulating the rural economy, and advancing Benin’s transition to decarbonized energy.
In his speech, Mr. Émeric Tokoudagba, Director General of the SBPE and National Project Director, highlighted the alignment of the AMP project with the ambitions of the Beninese Government and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): “The AMP Project is part of the continuity of the vision of the Beninese government: to strengthen climate resilience and promote inclusive development. It aims to provide rural areas with reliable, sustainable and affordable access to electricity.”
He added: “Through the various tools that will arise from the implementation of this project to facilitate the deployment of hybrid minigrids, focused on photovoltaic solar energy, the AMP project simultaneously addresses three major emergencies: the social emergency, by reducing inequalities in access to electricity; the environmental emergency, by promoting the use of renewable energy and the economic emergency, by providing reliable, continuous and affordable energy to support local entrepreneurship, public services, and rural value chains.”
Present at the ceremony, the UNDP Resident Representative in Benin, Titus Oladayo Osundina, expressed the UNDP’s total commitment to this structuring initiative: “The government of Benin has been able to draw a clear vision for the energy sector, highlighting essential priorities: expanding access to electricity, promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and efficiency. UNDP is proud to promote and support this vision through concrete actions carried out by this project.”
The National Program Coordinator, Mr. Tarcisius Sosthène TOFFOUN, recalled the objectives “This project is part of the continuity of Benin’s commitment to strengthen its resilience to the effects of climate change and to promote inclusive and sustainable development.”
The result of a participatory approach with sectoral ministries, NGOs, local authorities and private operators, the project is based on inclusive governance. The SBPE will ensure technical coordination, work supervision and the progressive integration of digital innovations to improve transparency and performance.
