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See GG2683110 in draft status
This project aims to sustainably increase the protein intake and food security of two orphanages in Benin through the establishment of aquaponic farms. Each site will simultaneously produce fresh tilapia fish and fresh vegetables in a virtuous cycle, covering 100% of the protein needs of the children in the orphanages, with the surplus sold to finance the maintenance of the system and the sustainability of the project. In addition to its nutritional impact, this project offers children a concrete opportunity for vocational guidance by instilling in them, from a young age, practical skills in fish farming and market gardening. This fulfills a national regulatory requirement that mandates the release of children upon reaching the age of majority (18), often exposing them to difficult socio-economic integration due to a lack of appropriate qualifications.
Specifically, we will: 1. Install two aquaponic units capable of producing 9,000 kg of fish and 6,000 kg of vegetables annually; 2. Reduce annual expenses related to the purchase of animal protein by 50%; 3. Train 80 children and 12 supervisors in aquaponics practices and social enterprise management; 4. Create a revolving fund, financed by the sale of surplus produce, to ensure maintenance and replication; 5. Print 180 comic books explaining aquaponics, produced by AVS for the benefit of the children's training;
250 children from two orphanages in the Atlantique department of the Republic of Benin will benefit from this project. Supervisory staff and local families will be present during the open house events (direct beneficiaries).
In Benin, protein-energy malnutrition remains a major public health problem, particularly among children under five. According to the 2023 Sustainable Development Report for Benin, funded by UNICEF, in the Atlantique department, more than a third of children aged 0 to 59 months suffer from stunted growth. Furthermore, 5% suffer from acute malnutrition and nearly 17% are underweight. This situation is even more concerning in orphanages, where limited financial resources restrict access to meat and vegetables. Rising food and agricultural input prices exacerbate the vulnerability of these facilities, often forcing them to reduce the quality and diversity of the food offered to children. A recent survey conducted in several orphanages in the Atlantic department revealed that a facility housing an average of 80 children (ages 0-17) consumes approximately 60 kg of fish per week, or nearly 240 kg per month. This represents an average monthly budget of USD 1,061 for fish purchases alone. This expense places a heavy burden on the orphanages' finances and limits their ability to diversify the children's diets.
Faced with these challenges, aquaponics, which combines fish farming and hydroponic vegetable production, offers a sustainable and innovative alternative. This circular system with a low water and environmental footprint not only improves access to quality protein (fish) and fresh vegetables, but also reduces dependence on external markets and fluctuating food prices. Furthermore, beyond the nutritional aspect, children in orphanages often face significant job insecurity when they reach adulthood. A lack of technical training limits their opportunities for integration into the job market. The aquaponics project therefore addresses a dual challenge:
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