Benin launches first national action plan for open government

Eighteen months after joining the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Bénin held a five-day national workshop in Cotonou from July 27 to 31, 2026. The gathering brought together public officials, civil society representatives, private sector actors, technical and financial partners, and media professionals to lay the groundwork for the country’s first National Action Plan aligned with OGP standards.

Building consensus on open governance principles

The workshop focused on equipping participants with a thorough understanding of OGP’s core values—transparency, accountability, citizen engagement, and anti-corruption measures. The goal was to foster a collaborative environment where diverse stakeholders could co-create tangible commitments for the upcoming plan.

Victorin Honvoh, Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Budget and Public Service, framed Bénin’s OGP membership as a natural extension of ongoing government reforms. He emphasized priorities such as budget transparency, public access to information, and citizen participation, stressing that success hinges on sustained dialogue between public institutions and non-state actors. Honvoh urged participants to channel their insights into concrete proposals that reflect the principles of open governance.

From regional consultations to national commitments

Mireille Hortense Codjovi, Head of the Open Budget Unit and National OGP Focal Point, described the workshop as a preparatory phase ahead of nationwide consultations across Bénin’s twelve departments. These grassroots engagements aim to capture local priorities, which will then be analyzed, prioritized, and integrated into the first draft of the National Action Plan.

The initiative is supported by key partners including Expertise France’s PAGOF2 program, GIZ, Swiss Cooperation, UNICEF, and the European Union, reflecting a collaborative effort to strengthen governance frameworks in the country.

Translating existing strengths into measurable commitments

Jean-Pierre Degue, Vice President of the OGP Technical Committee, highlighted that Bénin already boasts achievements in budget transparency and citizen participation. The challenge now lies in translating these strengths into quantifiable commitments under the OGP framework.

International expert Gustavo Pérez Ara outlined the partnership’s three pillars—participation, transparency, and accountability—underscoring the importance of the existing dialogue between public authorities and civil society. Chabi Kassim Taba, Advisor to the Audit Court, led discussions on embedding these principles into public institutions’ operational practices.

Outcomes from the workshop, combined with findings from departmental consultations, will form the backbone of Bénin’s inaugural OGP National Action Plan, setting a new standard for governance in the region.