BENIN

AT A GLANCE
Official Name: Republic of Benin
Chief of State: President Thomas Yayi Boni
Next election: March 2011
Capital: Porto-Novo
Population: 8.94 million (UN, 2009)
Independence: 1960 from France
Human Development Index: 161 of 182 countries (UN, 2009)
Gender Gap Index: 131 of 134 countries (World Economic Forum, 2009)
Gross National Income per capita: US$690 (World Bank, 2009)

Supporting Administrative and Institutional Reform

Status: Operational
Local Organization: Ministry of Administrative and Institutional Reform (MRAI)
Canadian Expert: Jacques Pelletier

The Government of Benin has made public administration reform a priority in its economic recovery program, in order to better address an increasing demand for public services that will help boost productivity in the agricultural, industrial and services sectors. In response to a request from MRAI, Canadian expert Jacques Pelletier helped develop an action plan and communications strategy to increase the visibility of these reforms, strengthen the directory of senior technical professionals and train human resources personnel in the use of recruitment tools and processes.

Strengthening the Management of Public Finances

Status: Operational
Local Organization: Inspection Générale des Finances (IGF)
Canadian Expert: Jacques Leduc

Benin’s IGF is a supervisory body that assists the Minister of Finance in the management of public finances to promote economic growth and reduce poverty. The IGF is also responsible for ensuring quality audits, reviews, surveys, studies and evaluations. Canadian expert Jacques Leduc is working closely with IGF to build its capacity in conducting performance audits and implementing oversight reforms. He has introduced the management staff to the principles and methods of change management and helped them produce action plans using results-based management techniques. Jacques is currently working with three teams of inspectors on performance audits of the following programs: primary education, agricultural development, and health care services, to be completed by the end of 2010.

Customs Reform at the Port of Cotonou

Status: Closed, 2010
Local Organization: Directorate-general of customs and indirect taxes (DGDDI)
Canadian Experts: Jacques Pelletier and Jean Ouimet

Benin’s strategic location on the Gulf of Guinea provides it with the potential to become the commercial hub of West Africa, with a market of 200 million. Commerce, transportation and trade are important sources of revenue, with imports and exports representing close to 40% of GDP. Most of these goods transit through the Port of Cotonou. Over the past few years, Benin’s DGDDI has been working to modernize its customs procedures and increase the capacity of the port, by facilitating imports and exports, ensuring transparency, reducing customs errors, and improving client services. Canadian experts Jacques Pelletier and Jean Ouimet worked closely with the DGDDI using change management techniques to achieve Benin’s customs reform goals. They developed an action plan, a monitoring system, and a training workshop for customs officials on communications and customer service management.