UNDP Benin Accelerator Lab

We are working on water hyacinth management in three lake areas of Benin, the capacity upgrading of young artisans in the building industry and the establishment of an innovations platform.

Since 2019, the UNDP Benin Accelerator Lab’s work has been oriented around five main challenges. After a mapping of the key players in the national innovation ecosystem with EtriLabs, our work focused on securing the incomes of women market gardeners in Avrankou. Carried out through the full Accelerator Lab methodology’s deployment, this work was based on local expertise by associating the Ministry of Agriculture (PTAA-INRAB and ATDA7) and market gardeners’ peer trainers from other communes. With COVID-19, the Lab has worked on the design and use of innovative and interactive hand washbasins, an interactive disinfection booth and a mobile distancing application without tracing. In 2021, with the BAI of the Presidency, the team carried out (i) an exploration of the problems of tourism in three lake areas with a focus on the management of water hyacinth and (ii) the deployment of a project initiation plan to upgrade the capacities of young people in crafts, tourism, hospitality and the development of the living environment in Benin. Finally, together with our counterparts in Togo and Ghana, we are currently working on promoting cross-border trade as part of the Africa Borderlands Center’s Innovation Challenge.