Affordable housing, easier commutes, smarter waste management, flood prevention and job creation: the shift toward sustainable cities is opening new possibilities for improving how people live. In Cotonou, the fourth edition of the International Forum on Living Environment (FIC), which wrapped up on October 10, 2026, put the spotlight on urban development that balances environmental protection, economic progress and the basic needs of citizens. The fallout from the forum is now feeding a lively public debate, and the question on many lips is simple: what comes next?
In Benin, as in many African countries, the future of cities also hinges on their ability to address the everyday concerns of residents. Finding decent housing, getting around more easily, living in a cleaner environment or being less exposed to flooding are challenges that place territorial planning at the heart of development policies.
It was against this backdrop that the fourth edition of the International Forum on Living Environment was held in Cotonou from October 8 to 10, 2026. Built around the theme “Economy of African territories: accelerating the transition to carbon sobriety,” the gathering brought into focus the opportunities offered by an urban development model that is more environmentally friendly and better suited to African realities.
Beyond discussions on cutting carbon emissions, the real challenge is to turn the ecological transition into a lever for concrete improvements in daily life. A sustainable city is not defined solely by its infrastructure or its environmental performance, but also by its ability to give residents a healthier, more accessible and safer living environment.
Better-planned cities that make daily life easier
The quality of the living environment depends first and foremost on how urban spaces are organized. When housing, workplaces, schools and essential services are poorly distributed, commuting becomes longer and more expensive. Conversely, coherent urban planning can help bring services closer to people and facilitate their daily activities.
Improving mobility is therefore a key issue for Beninese cities. User-friendly facilities, better organization of travel and greater consideration for pedestrians and public transport can help make urban spaces more functional.
The project dedicated to the Fifa bus stop, led by Willson Edwin Mardochet ADJOVI and Mohamed BAYDOUN, was among the initiatives recognized at the hackathon held alongside FIC 2026. The proposal illustrates young people’s interest in the concrete problems of mobility and urban planning.
The challenge now is to encourage solutions that can meet users’ needs while taking technical, financial and environmental constraints into account. Better-designed mobility can, in time, help reduce some daily difficulties and improve access to essential services.
Sustainable housing as an economic and social issue
Housing is another pillar of improving the living environment. For households, the quality of a home is measured as much by its solidity as by its comfort, its adaptation to climate conditions and the costs it generates over time.
From this perspective, promoting local materials is a path worth exploring. When their use is based on quality criteria and appropriate standards, it can support national production chains and encourage the development of local skills in the construction sector.
This orientation can also open economic prospects, particularly for artisans, building companies and material producers. However, its benefits for households will depend on several factors, including production costs, resource availability, the quality of the works and their durability over time.
At the closing of the forum, the Director General of Construction and Housing, Ismaïl YASSO, stressed the need to standardize and certify local materials. This step is essential to strengthen user confidence and promote the integration of these materials into construction practices.
The goal is to promote housing suited to the country’s realities, without separating sustainability requirements from concerns about cost and affordability.
Preventing flooding and cleaning up neighborhoods
The effects of inadequate planning also show up through difficulties in draining rainwater, the accumulation of waste and sanitation problems. For residents of exposed neighborhoods, these situations can disrupt travel, weaken homes and degrade living conditions.
Integrated urban planning that takes land use, infrastructure, flood risks and ecosystem preservation into account therefore appears indispensable. It makes it possible to better anticipate constraints and coordinate interventions rather than tackling problems in isolation.
Wastewater management is, in this respect, an important issue. The project presented by Nelly Mahouna GBAGUIDI and Meryl AGNIKPE, who were rewarded at the FIC hackathon, reflects the interest in this problem.
Tailored solutions could help improve neighborhood sanitation and limit polluting discharges into the environment. Their effectiveness will, however, depend on their implementation, the resources mobilized and how the services responsible for their operation and maintenance are organized.
Waste management and the preservation of natural spaces serve the same ambition: building cities where environmental concerns translate into visible benefits for people.
Carbon sobriety as an opportunity for the local economy
The transition to carbon-sober territories is not limited to reducing the environmental impact of human activities. It can also foster the emergence of new economic activities in sustainable construction, recycling, sanitation and the valorization of local resources.
These sectors are likely to generate jobs and strengthen national skills. The participation of young people in the FIC hackathon illustrates, in this respect, the potential for innovation that new generations represent in the face of urban challenges.
Still, ideas must be able to move beyond competitions and professional gatherings. Financing, technical support and project maturation are essential steps to turn proposals into genuinely useful services or infrastructure.
This is precisely one of the points raised by Ismaïl YASSO, who insisted on the need for sufficiently prepared projects to facilitate access to funding. Carbon sobriety can thus become a lever for economic development, provided its benefits are assessed on the basis of concrete achievements.
From forum to delivery: the post-FIC challenge
The tree-planting event held at the Fidjrossè public primary school ahead of the forum’s closing served as a reminder that transforming the living environment can also begin at the level of neighborhoods and schools. Such initiatives help raise citizen awareness about protecting natural heritage, even if their effects depend on follow-up and care of the plants.
At the end of this fourth edition, the Minister of Living Environment and Transport, Georges ALE, called on participants to translate the recommendations from the proceedings into precise actions, with clearly defined responsibilities and resources.
That call highlights the main challenge of FIC 2026: ensuring continuity between the discussions launched and the transformations expected on the ground. For residents, results will have to be measured through tangible improvements, whether in access to housing, mobility, sanitation or the reduction of environmental risks.
In Benin, the ambition of sustainable cities will only fully make sense if it translates into a perceptible improvement in living conditions. The success of this approach will depend on the ability of public authorities, local governments, economic actors and citizens to turn the forum’s orientations into feasible, accessible and sustainable projects. For beyond carbon sobriety, the real challenge remains building more pleasant cities to live in, where development directly benefits the people.
