Key challenge
How can Cotonou’s port area maintain vibrant street food trade while ensuring strict hygiene and safety for both vendors and customers?
Solution implemented
The Port Autonome de Cotonou (PAC) addressed pressing concerns about unsafe working conditions and food hygiene along the port route through extensive stakeholder consultations. The result was the construction of modern, weatherproof vendor spaces equipped with running water and electricity. This initiative demonstrates the port authority’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility for the surrounding communities.
Transformative initiative
The Port Autonome de Cotonou has long prioritized modernization and community engagement. In 2024, it unveiled a 3,000m² covered facility featuring fully equipped cooking stations, water access, and reliable electricity. Previously, 98 female vendors operated along the busy roadside without protection from traffic or harsh weather, lacking proper cooking facilities, sanitation, or storage options. Their new location provides clean, modern workspaces that enable hygienic food preparation while serving port workers and local residents.
The 600 million FCFA project followed a participatory approach, consulting all stakeholders. Beyond improving working conditions and financial stability for vendors—who now serve a more diverse clientele including senior staff and dockworkers—the initiative has boosted sales by 20%. Ongoing data collection will track additional benefits such as reduced incidents and waste.
