Decent housing, easier commutes, smarter waste management, flood prevention and job creation — the shift toward sustainable cities in Benin promises to reshape daily life. But can it deliver? That was the central question hanging over the fourth edition of the International Forum on Living Environment (FIC), which wrapped up in Cotonou on October 10, 2026. The gathering underscored what is at stake in urban development that balances environmental protection, economic progress and the basic needs of citizens.
Across Benin, as in much of Africa, the future of cities hinges on their ability to answer the everyday concerns of residents. Finding adequate housing, moving around more easily, living in a cleaner environment or facing less exposure to flooding — these challenges put territorial planning at the heart of development policy.
It was against this backdrop that Cotonou hosted the fourth FIC from October 8 to 10, 2026. Organized around the theme “Economy of African territories: accelerating the transition to carbon sobriety,” the event explored the possibilities offered by an urban development model that is more environmentally friendly and better suited to African realities.
Beyond discussions on cutting carbon emissions, the goal is to turn the ecological transition into a driver of tangible improvements in daily life. A sustainable city is not defined solely by its infrastructure or environmental performance, but also by its capacity to offer residents a healthier, more accessible and safer living environment.
Better-planned cities to ease daily life
The quality of living conditions depends first on how urban spaces are organized. When housing, workplaces, schools and essential services are poorly distributed, commutes become longer and more expensive. Conversely, coherent urban planning can bring services closer to people and facilitate their daily activities.
Improving mobility is therefore a major issue for Beninese cities. User-friendly facilities, better trip organization and consideration for pedestrians and public transport can make urban areas more functional.
The project dedicated to the Fifa bus stop, led by Willson Edwin Mardochet ADJOVI and Mohamed BAYDOUN, was among the initiatives recognized during the hackathon held alongside FIC 2026. The proposal illustrates young people’s interest in concrete mobility and urban planning issues.
The challenge now is to foster solutions that meet user needs while taking into account technical, financial and environmental constraints. Better-designed mobility can eventually help reduce some daily difficulties and improve access to essential services.
Sustainable housing: an economic and social priority
Housing represents another pillar of improving the living environment. For households, the quality of a home is measured as much by its solidity as by its comfort, its adaptation to climate conditions and the expenses it generates over time.
In this perspective, promoting local materials is a path worth exploring. Their use, when based on quality criteria and appropriate standards, can support national production chains and encourage the development of local skills in the construction sector.
This orientation can also open economic prospects, particularly for artisans, building companies and material producers. However, its benefits for households will depend on several factors, including production cost, resource availability, the quality of works and their durability over time.
At the forum’s closing, the Director General of Construction and Housing, Ismaïl YASSO, stressed the need to standardize and certify local materials. This approach is essential to strengthen user confidence and promote the integration of these materials into construction practices.
The goal is to promote housing adapted to the country’s realities, without separating durability requirements from concerns about cost and accessibility.
Preventing floods and cleaning up neighborhoods
The effects of inadequate planning also show through difficulties in draining rainwater, waste accumulation and sanitation problems. For residents of exposed neighborhoods, these situations can disrupt travel, weaken homes and degrade living conditions.
Integrated urban planning — taking into account land, infrastructure, flood risks and ecosystem preservation — therefore appears indispensable. It allows for better anticipation of constraints and coordination of interventions rather than treating problems in isolation.
Wastewater management is a key issue in this regard. The project presented by Nelly Mahouna GBAGUIDI and Meryl AGNIKPE, rewarded during the FIC hackathon, reflects the interest in this problem.
Adapted solutions could help improve neighborhood sanitation and limit polluting discharges into the environment. Their effectiveness will, however, depend on implementation, mobilized resources and the organization of services responsible for their operation and maintenance.
Waste management and the preservation of natural spaces serve the same ambition: building cities where environmental concerns translate into visible benefits for populations.
Carbon sobriety: an opportunity for the local economy
The transition to carbon-sober territories is not limited to reducing the environmental impact of human activities. It can also foster the emergence of new economic activities in sustainable construction, recycling, sanitation and the valorization of local resources.
These sectors are likely to generate jobs and strengthen national skills. The participation of young people in the FIC hackathon illustrates, in this respect, the innovation potential that new generations represent in the face of urban challenges.
Yet ideas must be able to move beyond competitions and professional meetings. Financing, technical support and project maturation are essential steps to turn proposals into genuinely useful services or infrastructure.
This is precisely one of the points raised by Ismaïl YASSO, who insisted on the need for sufficiently prepared projects to facilitate access to funding. Carbon sobriety can thus become a lever for economic development, provided its benefits are assessed based on concrete achievements.
From forum to reality: the post-FIC challenge
The tree-planting event held at the Fidjrossè public primary school ahead of the forum’s closing served as a reminder that transforming the living environment can also start at the neighborhood and school level. Such initiatives help raise citizen awareness about protecting natural heritage, even if their effects depend on follow-up and care for the plants.
At the end of this fourth edition, the Minister of Living Environment and Transport, Georges ALE, called on participants to translate the recommendations from the proceedings into precise actions, with clearly defined responsibilities and resources.
This call highlights the main challenge of FIC 2026: ensuring continuity between the discussions undertaken and the transformations expected on the ground. For populations, results will have to be measured through tangible improvements — whether in access to housing, mobility, sanitation or the reduction of environmental risks.
In Benin, the ambition of sustainable cities will only fully make sense if it translates into a perceptible improvement in living conditions. The success of this approach will depend on the ability of public authorities, local governments, economic actors and citizens to turn the forum’s orientations into feasible, accessible and sustainable projects. Because, beyond carbon sobriety, the real challenge remains building more pleasant cities to live in, where development directly benefits populations.
