Benin
After the 2003 IF evaluation, Benin was the first one of the group
of new countries where IF work was undertaken.
To lay the ground work for the DTIS and the IF process, a preliminary
mission took place from January 12-16, 2004, and Terms
of Reference (pdf - 153k) for this mission and the main missions
were prepared. Participants included the team leader and representatives
of the European Commission, ITC, World Bank and WTO.
Upon completion of the preliminary mission, an aide-mémoire was
completed, which highlighted the main outcomes of the mission.
Prior to the main mission, which took place from April 26-May 7,
2004, a concept note was prepared outlining the structure of
the DTIS. Upon completion of the main mission, an aide-mémoire was
prepared.
Based on the results of the main mission, the DTIS was prepared
and discussed during the National Validation Workshop in October
2005.
The final version of the DTIS, in which the outcome of the workshop
was incorporated, was approved by the government in March 2006.
A five-year (approximately US$307 million) compact was signed
by the (US) Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) with the Government
of the Republic of Benin. The Millennium Challenge Compact with
Benin aims to address major constraints to economic growth and poverty
reduction by supporting improvements in physical and institutional
infrastructure in four critical sectors focusing on access to land,
financial services, justice and markets. The access to markets
project is expected to reduce delays at the Port of Cotonou and
increase the volume of exports in areas important to Benin such
as cotton. The MCA compact also coincided with the major components
proposed by the then newly-elected president in his economic agenda.
Next steps in the implementation of Benin Integrated Framework included:
1. Drafting and implementation of Window II projects,
2. Integration of Economic Growth priorities in the new PRSP,
3. Setting-up of an IF monitoring system,
4. Identifying of supplementary funding sources,
5. Consultation with other donors on supplementary funding,
6. Identifying of implementation mechanisms,
7. Development of a statement of work for the implementing committee
in collaboration with donors and GOB,
8. Choosing of a leader among EG donors for implementation oversight,
and
9 Establishment of a steering committee and a secretariat.
A new government took office in April 2006. In July 2006, new
ministerial decrees were prepared to re-establish the National
Steering Committee and the LPAC.
The April 2007 PRSP included DTIS results in chapters on private
sector support, diversification of the economy, promotion of
regional integration and on transport.
One Window II project on trade-related technical assistance was
launched.
The MCC has agreed to finance some of the priority actions
identified in the DTIS action matrix; a recent World Bank growth and
competitiveness project will finance others.
Page last updated on 19 May 2008
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