THE CLIENT
PACOFIDE (Projet d’Appui à la Compétitivité des Filières Agricoles et à la Diversification des Exportations).
APIEx-Benin (Agence de Promotion des Investissements et des Exportations).
ATDA (Agence Territoriale de Développement Agricole).
THE CHALLENGE
Benin’s rural economy and agricultural export potential are constrained by fragmented value chains, limited strategic coordination, and an underdeveloped institutional framework for competitiveness. To diversify exports and boost rural incomes, the country needed to build local capacity and deploy a structured, internationally-validated methodology to systematically strengthen its key agricultural sectors.
THE SERVICE
The project implemented a cluster-based competitiveness program across six priority value chains, combining rapid diagnostics, strategic analysis, and international benchmarking. It focused on transferring methodology and building local capacity, facilitating public–private dialogue, and supporting the development of strategic roadmaps, policy recommendations, and investment plans.
- Value chain diagnostics & competitiveness analysis
- Capacity building for public institutions & officials
- Design of action line tenders and supplier identification
- Primary data collection, database creation & market intelligence surveys
- Cluster development & management
RESULTS
The project delivered six fully developed cluster initiatives with validated strategic roadmaps and investment plans, directly strengthening the competitiveness and coordination of priority value chains. It enabled local institutions to independently apply an internationally recognized competitiveness methodology, significantly improving institutional capacity and stakeholder collaboration. The initiative generated concrete policy reform recommendations, strengthened the business and export environment, and identified clear market and innovation opportunities. Through extensive public–private engagement and international benchmarking, the project established a sustainable foundation for long-term value chain upgrading, export diversification, and private sector–led growth in Benin.
