Rabat recently hosted the 17th Panafrican Ministerial Forum of CAFRAD on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Ahead of the 61st Board of Directors session, Benin’s Minister of Budget and Public Service, Rodrigue Chaou, presented the nation’s ambitious vision. Through extensive service digitalization and structural reforms, Cotonou is establishing itself as a benchmark for modern governance, committed to transforming its public administration into a powerful engine for economic growth.
A strategic summit for the future of african public services
The high-level gathering commenced in the Moroccan capital, a historical nexus for South-South cooperation. Established in 1964, the African Centre for Administrative Training and Research (CAFRAD) stands as the premier intergovernmental body dedicated to reimagining state structures across the continent.
This year’s forum tackled a significant challenge with its theme: leadership as a crucial catalyst for guiding public action within a VICA(P)D environment. This intricate acronym encapsulates a tangible reality: administrations must now navigate a world marked by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, alongside the profound shifts brought by digital transformation. For Benin, represented by Minister Rodrigue Chaou, this assembly transcended mere diplomatic protocol. It served as a vital platform to align national reforms with leading continental practices and to unequivocally reiterate the nation’s aspiration to elevate public administration into a primary driver of economic competitiveness.
Governing in a tempest: new styles of public leadership
The proceedings, attended by ministers, international experts, and senior officials, centered on two pivotal theoretical and practical presentations.
The initial address, delivered by Dr. Dieudonné Assouvi, CAFRAD’s Director General, outlined the profile of the future public manager. He emphasized that in an unstable global landscape, rigid, hierarchical bureaucratic methods have proven inadequate. Dr. Assouvi advocated for agile leadership, stressing its capacity to foresee economic crises and respond in real-time to ensure state continuity.
Following this, Professor Sehl Mellouli from Laval University in Canada presented on the critical nexus between political leadership and digital sovereignty. He highlighted that in this era of artificial intelligence and sovereign cloud solutions, technological independence for African states is no longer merely an option but a fundamental prerequisite for national security and economic appeal.
The economic impact of digitalization: Benin’s winning bet
“A modern administration transcends being merely a tool for political prestige; it stands as the foremost partner for private investment and wealth generation,” was a key message.
During the ministerial experience-sharing session, the Beninese delegation proudly highlighted its significant progress. For several years, Benin has pursued an aggressive digitization of its public services. This strategy stems from a core belief that simplifying administrative processes substantially lowers transaction costs for businesses and creates a sustainably healthier business environment.
Benin specifically shared its success in dematerializing fiscal procedures. By streamlining and digitizing tax collection and customs formalities, the nation not only secures public revenues but also effectively eliminates bureaucratic bottlenecks that historically hindered economic operators.
Continuing this momentum, the establishment of a single window for business creation now allows a legal entity to be formed online in just a few hours. This ease of doing business actively fosters youth entrepreneurship and attracts foreign direct investment. Furthermore, the inherent transparency of digitization minimizes physical interactions between citizens and officials via online platforms, thereby mitigating corruption risks and strengthening public trust in governmental institutions.
A resilient administration serving citizens
Beyond the macroeconomic productivity gains, Benin’s administrative modernization efforts are designed to have a direct, positive impact on citizens’ daily lives. Discussions in Rabat extensively covered digital inclusion, emphasizing that digital transformation must not marginalize the most vulnerable segments of society.
For the Beninese government, digitization is complemented by a proactive policy of decentralization and expanded access to essential services. Whether it involves obtaining civil status records, criminal background checks, or identity documents, the significant reduction in administrative processing times helps reintegrate citizens into the formal economy and ensures equal opportunities across the entire territory, from bustling urban centers to the most remote regions.
Towards the 61st cafrad board of directors session
With the Ministerial Forum just concluded, delegations are already looking ahead to the institution’s 61st Board of Directors session. For Minister Rodrigue Chaou and his counterparts, the immediate challenge will be to translate the strategic directions discussed into actionable operational roadmaps.
Member states are expected to review CAFRAD’s activity report, outline future training programs for senior African executives, and bolster South-South cooperation in administrative engineering. Through its active engagement in these crucial decision-making bodies, Benin clearly demonstrates that it is not merely adopting governance models but is proactively contributing to the co-creation of 21st-century African administration. This sends a powerful message to development partners and international markets: in Cotonou, the state is modernizing to foster greater prosperity.
