Combining coastal protection with private‑sector-led growth to strengthen the blue economy value chains in Benin and Mauritania.
WASHINGTON, March 17, 2026 - The World Bank Group today approved a total of $240 million, including $207 million from the International Development Association (IDA) financing, $5 million from the PROBLUE trust fund, and $28 million in private capital, to launch the first phase of the West Africa Coastal Areas Blue Economy and Resilience Program (WACA+). The program will help Benin and Mauritania protect vulnerable coastlines from erosion and floods, strengthen blue‑economy value chains, and create thousands of new and better‑paid jobs for coastal communities.
Coastal zones across West Africa, home to more than 360 million people, are vital engines of economic growth, yet the pressures on livelihoods are growing, especially in sectors such as tourism, fisheries, aquaculture, and port services that hold strong job creation potential. WACA+ delivers the kind of targeted investments needed to protect these economies and support long-term job growth. "West Africa's coastal communities are on the frontlines of climate change, facing the loss of the ecosystems and economic assets they rely on. WACA+ brings the integrated response these challenges demand," says Chakib Jenane, World Bank Regional Director for Planet, underscoring the urgency of this effort. "By investing in coastal protection infrastructure, national capacity for coastal management, and small businesses, it will help reduce exposure to coastal erosion and floods of more than 530,000 people and create thousands of better jobs."
In Benin, the program will stabilize the Bouche du Roy estuary and Mono River mouth, protecting homes, farmlands, tourism zones, and key transport corridors. In Mauritania, it will reinforce the dune belt shielding Nouakchott, reducing flood risks for densely populated neighborhoods and key economic assets. Across the two countries, WACA+ will support large-scale ecosystem restoration, including up to 3,000 hectares of mangroves and coastal wetlands to improve fisheries productivity, reduce storm‑surge risks, and expands opportunities in ecotourism and aquaculture. In parallel, the project will actively engage and strengthen the private sector by investing in entrepreneurial capacity. through training, coaching, and technical assistance for micro, small and medium size enterprises (MSMEs), cooperatives, producer associations, women and youth‑led businesses. By 2031, more than 31,000 people are expected to benefit from capacity‑strengthening activities.
To enable long-term sustainability of coastal zone management, the program will back the implementation of national coastal development plans, strengthen coastal monitoring, and support improved governance of protected areas. It will also deploy strong private‑capital mobilization tools, including matching grants for MSMEs and a Partial Portfolio Credit Guarantee in Mauritania to unlock up to $20 million in new lending for fish processing enterprises. Phase 1 of WACA+ is expected to generate about 13,000 better‑paid jobs across Benin and Mauritania in fisheries, aquaculture, ecotourism, hospitality, logistics, and nature‑based restoration activities. Women and youth remain central beneficiaries throughout the program.
As these national efforts advance, WACA+ also strengthens the foundation for a unified regional response to shared coastal challenges. "No country can tackle coastal erosion or build a thriving blue economy alone. The forces shaping West Africa's coastline cross borders, and so must the solutions," says Marina Wes, World Bank acting Director for Regional Programs. "WACA+ provides a truly regional platform, linking countries, harmonizing policies, and mobilizing shared expertise to protect coastal communities, support job creation, and stimulate sustainable growth across the entire region. This cooperation is essential to safeguarding the shared coastline and unlocking new opportunities for millions of people."
WACA+ builds on the achievements of the previous and ongoing phases of the WACA Program, strengthening coastal resilience and protecting vulnerable shorelines and communities across West Africa. The "+" reflects the program's ambition to scale up coastal development efforts while expanding the potential of the blue economy as a driver of socio-economic development, particularly through job creation. Future phases of the WACA+ will extend support to additional West African countries, ultimately protecting over 1.3 million hectares of seascapes, enhancing resilience for over 850,000 people, and supporting more than 50,000 jobs across the region.
