RGA/4/2
Sponsored by Avalon Hurt, Elle Wilson of Franklin High School
The delegates above represented the Delegation of Benin.
This legislation was filed in the Economic and Financial category
Presented as part of the MUN B 2023 conference
| 1 | To the General Assembly, |
| 2 | |
| 3 | Acknowledging poverty in Benin stems from multiple factors, including an unstable agricultural |
| 4 | sector that employs a large percentage of the population, gender inequality, and disparities in |
| 5 | education. |
| 6 | |
| 7 | Bearing in mind that Benin's debt level is $9 Billion and the national debt of Benin is forecast to |
| 8 | continuously increase between 2023 and 2028 by 3.4 billion U.S. dollars. |
| 9 | |
| 10 | Realizing that in Benin, 70% of 10 million of the population relies on agriculture for their |
| 11 | livelihoods. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | Noting that projections indicate that temperatures across the country will continue to increase by 1 |
| 14 | to 2°C on average per year, depending on the GCM used, exposing smallholder farmers to serious |
| 15 | challenges. |
| 16 | |
| 17 | Being aware that this means millions are at risk of facing challenges such as droughts and floods. |
| 18 | |
| 19 | Noting that impoverished farmers may not have access to necessary resources like fertilizer, |
| 20 | quality seeds, or farming equipment. |
| 21 | |
| 22 | Additionally, poverty rates have increased over the years, with Benin ranking low on the Human |
| 23 | Development Index, at #166 for the last 4 years. |
| 24 | |
| 25 | Alarmed that Benin’s poverty in the last two decades has reached a percentage of 95, but in the |
| 26 | last couple of years has declined to 84 percent. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | Recognizing that this country continues to struggle with high population growth, low life |
| 29 | expectancy, and food insecurity. |
| 30 | |
| 31 | Realizing that Benin scores a 40 out of 100 in food security and 1 of 10 people are |
| 32 | undernourished. |
| 33 | |
| 34 | Acknowledging that people in Benin have an average annual income of 1,400 USD and 45% of the |
| 35 | |
| 36 | Bearing in mind that poverty in Benin stems from multiple factors, including an unstable |
| 37 | agricultural sector that employs a large percentage of the population, gender inequality, and |
| 38 | disparities in education. |
| 39 | |
| 40 | Realizing that despite being a country for over six decades, these problems persist. |
| 41 | |
| 42 | The delegation of Benin does hereby: |
| 43 | |
| 44 | Request that a sum of 10 million US dollars be invested into the Global Agricultural and Food |
| 45 | Security Program to specifically help the food security problem in Benin. |
| 46 | |
| 47 | Noting that the Global Agricultural and Food Security Program (GAFSP) focuses on solutions that |
| 48 | support smallholder farmers, countries, and agribusinesses to adapt to changing circumstances |
| 49 | right away, through access to climate-resilient, drought-resistant seed varieties, or more efficient |
| 50 | intercropping methods. |
| 51 | |
| 52 | Acknowledging that GAFSP’s project will help Benin channel funding to smallholder farmers to |
| 53 | drive change across the food system and help incentivize the private sector to implement projects |
| 54 | in partnership with the world’s leading development agencies. |
| 55 | |
| 56 | Noting that the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative is an organization that ensures |
| 57 | no poor country faces an unmanageable debt burden. |
| 58 | |
| 59 | Take heed that the HIPC Initiative will take part in this resolution and provide debt relief and low- |
| 60 | interest loans to reduce Benin’s external debt repayments to sustainable levels. |
| 61 | |
| 62 | Noting that a careful approach to relieving Benin’s national debt and food insecurity is a wise |
| 63 | solution to further strengthen the economy. |
| 64 | |
| 65 | Affirm that this resolution will go into effect on December 1st, 2023. |
| 66 | |
| 67 |