Bénin advances toward open governance with inaugural national action plan
Eighteen months after joining the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Bénin hosted a five-day national workshop in Cotonou to deepen understanding of open governance principles and lay the groundwork for the country’s first National Action Plan.
Building momentum for transparent governance
The workshop convened a diverse coalition of stakeholders, including government officials, civil society representatives, private sector leaders, technical and financial partners, and media professionals. Over five intensive days, participants explored the core values of the OGP—transparency, accountability, access to information, anti-corruption measures, and citizen engagement—and discussed how to embed these principles into Bénin’s institutional framework.
Victorin Honvoh, Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Budget and Public Service, framed the OGP membership as a natural extension of ongoing reforms. He emphasized transparency and accountability as cornerstones of the initiative, urging participants to develop concrete, actionable proposals that reflect the aspirations of Bénin’s citizens.
From dialogue to actionable commitments
Mireille Hortense Codjovi, Director of the Open Budget Unit and National OGP Focal Point, highlighted the workshop’s role in preparing for nationwide consultations. These consultations, scheduled across all twelve departments of Bénin, aim to gather public priorities and integrate them into the first draft of the National Action Plan.
Key partners supporting this process include the PAGOF2 program led by Expertise France, GIZ, the Swiss Cooperation, UNICEF, and the European Union. Their collective expertise will help shape a plan that aligns with global standards while addressing local needs.
Translating existing gains into measurable commitments
Jean-Pierre Degue, Vice President of the OGP Technical Committee, noted that Bénin already boasts significant achievements in budget transparency and citizen participation. The challenge now is to convert these strengths into quantifiable commitments under the OGP framework.
International expert Gustavo Pérez Ara reinforced this point, outlining the OGP’s three pillars—citizen participation, transparency, and accountability—and stressing that Bénin’s existing dialogue between administration and civil society provides a strong foundation for progress.
Under the guidance of Chabi Kassim Taba, Advisor to the Court of Auditors, participants refined strategies for embedding open governance principles into public institutions. The workshop’s recommendations, combined with insights from departmental consultations, will inform the drafting of Bénin’s inaugural National Action Plan.
