The Government of the United States of America, through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and the Governments of Benin and Niger signed on December 14, 2022, grant agreements for the establishment of the first regional compact Benin-Niger.

The Benin-Niger Regional Program is designed with the main objective of reducing transport costs along the corridor linking the port of Cotonou in Benin to the capital city of Niger, Niamey.

MCC will invest up to $202 million for Benin and $302 million for Niger. These investments will be supported by initial contributions of a combined amount of 15 million dollars from Benin and Niger, which will possibly be supplemented later at the end of certain studies, and should benefit approximately 1.6 million people. This number of beneficiaries would increase with the implementation of policy and institutional reforms at the border crossing.