The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a sovereign loan of €35.5 million to Société de Gestion des Déchets et de la Salubrité (SGDS), Benin’s national solid waste management company, to modernize municipal solid waste infrastructure in the Grand Nokoué region of southern Benin, according to a press release. The project is being co-financed with the European Investment Bank (EIB). It will introduce the first large-scale use of recycling, sorting, and composting systems in the country. The investment aims to transition the region’s solid waste sector toward a more integrated, sustainable, and recycling-oriented model. The financing marks the second project the EBRD has signed in Benin.
Grand Nokoué, home to approximately 2.8 million people, currently relies on a landfill-based disposal model. The EBRD funding will help the region shift to a more integrated and sustainable approach. This transition will be achieved through the introduction of innovative green technologies and practices. The changes are expected to yield tangible benefits at scale. Among them is an anticipated reduction in CO₂ emissions of more than 75,000 tonnes per year.
The investment will finance improvements to SGDS’ manual sorting facilities, the construction of new sorting centres and composting plants, and the installation of landfill gas collection systems. It will also support upgrades to leachate management systems and a range of ancillary works at landfill sites. The loan will enable the acquisition of waste collection trucks and containers. These additions are intended to improve operational efficiency and service coverage. Together, the upgrades will reshape the region’s waste handling capacity.
In addition, the EBRD will launch its first policy dialogue in sub-Saharan Africa’s infrastructure sector. The Bank will develop and implement an economic governance technical cooperation framework to support SGDS with operationalising a recently introduced household waste collection fee. In parallel, the technical cooperation will help SGDS strengthen gender standards through an Equal Opportunities Action Plan to increase women’s participation in technical and leadership roles. Dasha Dougans, EBRD Head of Benin, said:
“This project embodies our commitment to accelerating green and resilient urban development and supporting Benin as it upgrades essential public services.”
She added that the modernisation will bring long-term environmental, social and economic benefits.
Gilles Amoussou, SGDS’ Chief Executive Officer, described the project as an important milestone for the company and for Benin’s transition toward a more modern, sustainable waste management system. He credited the partnership with the EBRD and EIB for strengthening the infrastructure needed to serve residents of the Grand Nokoué area. Benin became an EBRD shareholder in 2024 and a country of operation in July 2025. The Bank aims to invest in sustainable critical infrastructure in the country to underpin private-sector development and support the modernisation and efficiency of enterprises. It will also work to help strengthen economic governance.
