Benin to get $60m subsidy from Netherlands for water sector

The government of Benin will benefit from the Netherlands a subsidy of 37 billion CFA Francs (60 million U.S. dollars) for water and sanitation sector program entitled "Omidelta".

The support covers the period 2017-2020 and is to assist the implementation of Omidelta program targeting drinking water in rural and urban areas, integrated water resources management in the Oueme river delta region and in the coastal area of Benin, hygiene promotion, basic sanitation and waste water systems, according to an official release on Monday in the economic capital Cotonou.

According to the release, the agreement to that effect has been reached a week earlier and is consecutive to another one signed 15 September this year for an emergency water program to the amount of 6.2 billion CFA Francs over the period 2016-2017.

It is part of the gradual revival of the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, as notified to Benin in September, 8, last year by Lilianne Ploumen, the Netherlands' minister of foreign trade and cooperation development.

May last year, The Netherlands suspended cooperation with Benin, following the misappropriation of financing to the tune of roughly 8 billion CFA Francs in the West African country.

source: Xinhua