Nearly a year and a half after joining the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Benin has hosted a five-day national workshop in Cotonou to deepen understanding of open governance principles. The gathering brought together public officials, representatives of state institutions, civil society, the private sector, technical and financial partners, and media professionals to lay the groundwork for the country’s inaugural National Action Plan.
Strengthening governance through collective engagement
The intensive session, held from July 27 to 31, emphasized the importance of transforming existing reforms into measurable commitments under the OGP framework. Participants explored how to convert transparency, accountability, access to information, anti-corruption efforts, and citizen participation into concrete policy deliverables.
Victorin Honvoh, Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Budget and Public Service, opened the event by framing Benin’s OGP membership as a continuation of ongoing government reforms. “This partnership is not just about joining an initiative—it’s about reinforcing our commitment to transparent and participatory governance,” he stated. He called on all stakeholders to contribute constructive proposals and embrace the principles of open government.
From dialogue to structured commitments
Mireille Hortense Codjovi, Director of the Open Budget Pillar and National OGP Focal Point, highlighted the workshop as a crucial step before nationwide citizen consultations. “These consultations, planned across all twelve departments, will gather public priorities and feed directly into the draft National Action Plan,” she explained. The resulting insights will be analyzed, prioritized, and integrated into the plan, ensuring it reflects the needs of Beninese citizens.
Multi-stakeholder collaboration at the core
The process is supported by key partners including Expertise France’s PAGOF2 program, GIZ, the Swiss Cooperation, UNICEF, and the European Union. Their involvement underscores the collaborative nature of the initiative, which seeks to institutionalize open governance practices across public institutions.
Translating existing strengths into measurable progress
Jean-Pierre Degue, Vice-President of the OGP Technical Committee, noted that Benin already boasts a solid foundation in budget transparency and civic engagement. “The real challenge now is to convert these strengths into specific, verifiable commitments within the OGP framework,” he said.
International expert Gustavo Pérez Ara reinforced this perspective by outlining the three pillars of the OGP: citizen participation, transparency, and accountability. He praised the existing dialogue between government and civil society as a solid foundation for future progress, adding that such cooperation is essential for sustaining long-term reforms.
Led by Chabi Kassim Taba, Advisor to the Court of Auditors, participants examined practical ways to embed open governance principles into public institutions. The workshop’s recommendations, combined with feedback from departmental consultations, will shape the final draft of Benin’s first National Action Plan under the OGP.
