Benin and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have reached an agreement on an indicative portfolio worth $730 million for the 2027-2028 period. Signed on September 24, the deal is meant to serve as a framework for identifying and preparing future investments in energy, transport and climate resilience.

This amount does not represent funding that has already been fully approved or disbursed. The AIIB notes that selected projects will still need to go through preparation, due diligence and approval stages specific to each operation.

$250 Million in policy-based financing

Of the $730 million under consideration, $250 million is expected to take the form of policy-based financing, aimed in particular at supporting Benin’s Vision 2060. The portfolio may also mobilize AIIB instruments dedicated to energy, food security, economic resilience and climate finance.

The agreement was signed by Rajat Misra, AIIB Director General for public sector clients in Region 1, and Hugues Oscar Lokossou, Minister Delegate in charge of Mobilizing External Resources and Debt Management. AIIB President Zou Jiayi and Aristide Medenou, Minister of Economy and Finance in charge of Cooperation, attended the signing.

A first multiyear pipeline for Africa

The AIIB describes this arrangement as its first multiyear pipeline of its kind in Africa. It builds on the closer partnership with Cotonou in infrastructure financing.

This cooperation already rests on a major initial commitment in transport. In December 2025, the AIIB signed a $200 million loan for the Grand Nokoué Sustainable Urban Mobility Project, part of a program of around $500 million co-financed with other partners.