Benin
Policy snapshots, In-depth policy analysis, Policy status updates, and Legal insights for Citizens, Policymakers, Researchers, Development Professionals, Infrastructure Development Enthusiasts.
The Government Action Programme (GAP) is a national policy plan covering a five-year period (2021–2026). The GAP 2021–2026 is a continuation of the Government Action Programme (GAP) 2016–2021. The Programme signed by the Presidency under Patrice Talon in 2021 consists of 87 reforms and 201 structuring projects with a total cost of FCFA 12.1 billion. The GAP 2021-2026 is established as the only operational planning instrument at the national level for guiding government action and to serve as the basis for planning the activities of ministries, agencies, and other structures, as well as for drawing up and implementing the state budget during the five-year period.
The aim of this Programme is to accelerate the structural transformation of the economy of the Republic of Benin. This is to be achieved by maintaining economic stability and continuing massive investments in infrastructure, inter alia. More specifically, the second pillar (Pillar 2) of the policy on ‘Continuing Structural Transformation of the Economy’ identifies developing and investing in infrastructure services such as transport and logistics, energy, and digital services as priority actions for accelerating economic growth.
Some of the key reform areas identified under the GAP 2021 – 2026 are:
- Reorganisation of the road maintenance system
- Creation of a Port Information System
- Establishing an electricity transport operator
- Establishing an instrument for financing renewable energy
- Restructuring of CONTRELEC (Electrical Installations Control Agency)
- Inauguration of a protocol for energy efficiency and energy security in public buildings and installations
- Restructuring the National Water Company of Benin (SONEB)
- Introduction of low price hookups and digitisation of customer services in urban environments
- Operationalisation of professionalised management of the drinkable water service in rural environments
- Establishment of guiding plans for development of water resources and the National Agency for Dams and Drainage Basins.
The above identified proposed reforms cut across the primary infrastructure sectors: transportation, energy, ICT, water and sanitation. To achieve these reforms, the following projects will be undertaken:
Transportation
- Reconstruction of the Cotonou-Allada-Bohicon-Dassa RNIE 2 (207 km)
- Construction of the interchange from Vedoko to Cotonou
- Development, tarring, restoration or strengthening of 1200 km of roads
- Construction and maintenance of 12,600 km of dirt roads and rural tracks, including 39 related work projects
- Bringing into compliance the infrastructure and equipment of the Airport of Tourou, Cana and airfields in the interior
- Management and protection of road and airport heritage
- Construction of a north bypass for Cotonou (40 KM) and its connecting route (5.7 km)
- Doubling the Seme-Porto-Novo road on the right (10 km) and construction of a new 2×2 bridge
- Completion of road projects in progress (917 km)
- Development and tarring of the Fishing road (phase 2) and the East Cornice of Cotonou
- Development and tarring of the Djougou-Pehunco-Kerou-Banikoara road (210 km)
- Restoration of the Marina boulevard (5.7 km) › Modernisation and extension of the Port of Cotonou
- Construction of a new international airport in Glo-Djigbé
- Renovation and extension of the Cardinal Bernardin Gantin Cadjehoun International Airport.
Energy
- Construction of a 143 MW thermal energy plant in the Glo-Djigbé Special Economic Zone
- Construction of the Dogo Bis (128 MW) multipurpose hydroelectric dam
- Construction of a gas turbine power plant in Maria-Gleta (40 MW)
- Nigeria-Niger-Benin/Togo-Burkina 330 kV and Nigeria-Benin interconnections (North backbone) and Nigeria/Benin
- Provision of electric energy to the Fishing road and ornamental stone production factory sites
- Access to sustainable and secure electrical energy for Benin
- Development of electrical distribution networks for quality energy services
- Construction of a floating terminal for storage and regasification (FSRU)
- Construction of 5 Solar Power plants
- National rural electrification programme
- Development of outside network renewable energy, energy efficiency and electric securement.
ICT
- Digital transformation of local communities
- Modernisation of public service media and access to quality information
- Deployment of high and very high-speed internet throughout the national territory (phase 2)
- Implementation of Intelligent Administration or SMART GOV (phase 2)
- Development of digital use and confidence
- Digital development in higher education.
Water & Sanitation
- Build and strengthen multi-village drinkable water supply systems in rural areas that are poorly served or not covered
- Build, strengthen or refurbish drinkable water supply systems to serve 60 cities
- Extension and interconnection of Cotonou and Abomey-Calavi drinkable water supply network for universal access
- Drinkable water supply for structuring infrastructure
- AQUA-VIE Programme
- Provision of drinkable water in rural environments and treatment of urban wastewater
- Construction and refurbishing of village water collection systems
- Construction and refurbishing of drinkable water supply systems for schools with cafeterias
- Strengthening the drinkable water supply systems of the cities of Abomey-Calavi, Porto-Novo and Sèmè-Kpodji
- Strengthening the drinkable water supply system of the city of Cotonou and its agglomeration
- Strengthening the drinkable water supply systems of the cities of Bassila, Adjarra and surrounding areas
- Strengthening the drinkable water supply system of the city of Parakou and surrounding areas phase 2
- Reduction of water loss and improvement of the viability of drinkable water supply systems of the cities of Cotonou, Porto-Novo and their agglomerations
- Strengthening the drinkable water supply systems of the cities of Savè, Dassa-Zoumé and Glazoué using surface water
- Strengthening the drinkable water supply systems of the cities of Boukoumbé, Covè, Zagnanado and surrounding areas
- Development of multifunction hydraulic infrastructure and integrated management of water resources
- Construction of 11 multifunction dams in the Ouémé Basin.
The implementation of all the actions, reforms, and projects planned under the GAP 2021–2026 five-year plan will require financial resources estimated at FCFA 12,011 billion, an increase of 33% from the initial estimate of the 2016–2021 GAP (estimated at FCFA 9,039 billion). The corresponding financing will come from both public sources (48%) and from Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The investments will make it possible to achieve a double-digit rate of growth by 2026; and to generate directly and indirectly more than 1.3 million jobs in the economy.
The Ministry of Development and Coordination of Governmental Action is responsible for planning the implementation of the Programme and coordination of executive action. The Ministry of the Economy and Finance ensures mobilisation of resources and coordination in defining the annual budgets to be allocated to each of the projects and actions chosen in the programme. The General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic of Benin supervises the system for monitoring implementation of the Government’s projects, programmes and reforms and consolidates their results.
Commentary
This policy is adequate because it covers a broad period of years. It is also a useful stepping stone for a period of long infrastructural growth. While the policy can be quite ambitious, if followed through, the achievements will represent positive infrastructural and economic progress. The policy also allows for citizen empowerment as some of the projects increase access to essential services, especially in under-served areas.