Climate change presents Benin with formidable challenges. A rising sea level and increases in extreme weather events will affect large and vulnerable communities on the coast, around and on Lake Nokoué, and in Cotonou where a local market lies along the canal that separates the lake from the Atlantic Ocean. Increased flooding, rainwater runoff, lake salination and other changes to the water system will exacerbate existing risk factors for outbreaks of waterborne communicable diseases such as diarrhea and cholera. Risk factors include water pollution and deficiencies in sanitation, drinking water and waste collection. Benin’s Climate Action Plan classifies the densely populated region around Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi, and Sô-Ava as the most vulnerable to climate-related health and social risks. However, not all communities and groups are equally affected. This project aims to quantify climate-sensitive waterborne-disease risks more precisely and distinguish groups that are most affected by them. The research team and local stakeholders will work together to develop a targeted early warning and response system that can mitigate the risks in coastal settlements, the open-air market in Cotonou, and communities living around Lake Nokoué. When successful, the application of the system can be expanded to include other climate-sensitive diseases and geographical regions.

Photo Credit: IDRC/Bright Drah