From November 25 to 27, 2025, the Palais des Congrès in Cotonou hosted the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Days (Journées de l’Écosystème Entrepreneurial, JEE), a flagship national event organized by the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (ADPME Bénin). Designed to strengthen entrepreneurship across the country, the event brought together SMEs, business support organizations, financial institutions, investors, and public decision-makers for three days of workshops, panel discussions, and networking.
Inawa Institute, in partnership with T-Ventures, facilitated a strategic session entitled “Green Finance in Benin: What Opportunities for SMEs?”, which drew some 70 participants; for the most part green entrepreneurs, NGO representatives, and companies operating in the sector. Moderated by Koffi Gueguehoun, Director of Inawa Institute, the panel brought together Dr. Ben-Vital Kpanou (International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group), Philippe Akpaki (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund), Kégamauré Moussa Igor (T-Ventures), and Djamiou Ohounko (Principal, Strategy & Financial Advisory, Inawa Institute).
The discussions addressed the gradual structuring of a green finance ecosystem in Benin and the role of SMEs in sustainable economic growth. Speakers underlined that sustainability criteria increasingly shape investment decisions. Green finance opportunities are expanding, but access to these resources requires strong project preparation, clear financial structuring, and credible sustainability data. Environmental performance is becoming a core requirement for eligibility for climate-related funding mechanisms, including blended finance instruments and impact-oriented investment funds.
For Inawa Institute, the session was an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of evidence-based decision-making and impact measurement. SMEs seeking green financing must be able to demonstrate measurable environmental and operational results, turning data into a trust-building tool for domestic and international investors alike. By contributing to these discussions, the Institute continues to support entrepreneurs and institutions in navigating complex financial and sustainability challenges in Benin.
