The World Bank Group has approved $240 million for the first phase of the West Africa Coastal Areas Blue Economy and Resilience Programme (WACA+), an initiative aimed at protecting vulnerable coastlines while unlocking private sector–led growth across Benin and Mauritania.
The financing package includes $207 million from the International Development Association, $5 million from the PROBLUE Trust Fund, and $28 million in private capital. The programme is designed to shield coastal communities from erosion and flooding, strengthen blue economy value chains, and generate thousands of better-paying jobs.
Coastal areas across West Africa, home to more than 360 million people, remain central to economic activity but face mounting pressure from climate change. Key sectors such as tourism, fisheries, aquaculture, and port services are increasingly vulnerable, putting livelihoods at risk.
According to World Bank Regional Director for Planet, Chakib Jenane, coastal communities are on the frontlines of climate change, with growing threats to ecosystems and economic assets. The programme is expected to reduce exposure to coastal erosion and flooding for more than 530,000 people while expanding employment opportunities.
In Benin, the initiative will stabilise the Bouche du Roy estuary and the Mono River mouth to protect homes, farmland, tourism assets, and transport routes. In Mauritania, it will reinforce the dune belt protecting Nouakchott, reducing flood risks for densely populated areas and key infrastructure.
Across both countries, WACA+ will support ecosystem restoration, including the rehabilitation of up to 3,000 hectares of mangroves and coastal wetlands. These efforts are expected to boost fisheries productivity, reduce storm risks, and expand opportunities in ecotourism and aquaculture.
The programme also places strong emphasis on private sector development, offering training, coaching, and technical support to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, cooperatives, and women- and youth-led businesses. By 2031, more than 31,000 people are expected to benefit from capacity-building initiatives.
To ensure long-term sustainability, WACA+ will support national coastal development plans, strengthen monitoring systems, and improve governance of protected areas. It will also introduce financing mechanisms to mobilise private investment, including matching grants for MSMEs and a Partial Portfolio Credit Guarantee in Mauritania aimed at unlocking up to $20 million in new lending for fish-processing enterprises.
The first phase of the programme is projected to create about 13,000 better-paid jobs across fisheries, aquaculture, ecotourism, hospitality, logistics, and nature-based restoration, with women and young people identified as key beneficiaries.
Acting World Bank Director for Regional Programmes, Marina Wes, highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, noting that coastal erosion and blue economy development require cross-border collaboration. She described WACA+ as a platform for harmonising policies and sharing expertise across West Africa.
The initiative underscores growing efforts to combine climate resilience with economic growth, positioning the blue economy as a critical driver of jobs and sustainable development across the region.