Benin embarks on its first open government action plan

The Republic of Benin is taking a decisive step toward greater transparency and civic engagement by launching its inaugural National Action Plan under the Open Government Partnership (OGP). Nearly 18 months after joining the initiative, a five-day national workshop convened in Cotonou from July 27 to 31, 2026, brought together key stakeholders to deepen understanding of open governance principles and lay the groundwork for the country’s first action plan.

Building consensus across sectors for transparent governance

Participants at the workshop included officials from public administration, constitutional institutions, civil society organizations, private sector representatives, technical and financial partners, and journalists. The primary goal was to align all stakeholders with OGP standards and establish a collaborative framework for co-creating the nation’s commitments under the partnership.

Victorin Honvoh, Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Budget and Public Service, opened the sessions by framing Benin’s OGP membership as a continuation of ongoing government reforms. He emphasized transparency, accountability, access to information, corruption prevention, and citizen participation as the pillars of this transition. Honvoh stressed that sustained dialogue between government agencies and non-state actors would be critical to the plan’s success, urging participants to submit concrete proposals and embrace open governance principles.

From national dialogue to departmental consultations

Mireille Hortense Codjovi, Director of the Open Budget Unit and National OGP Focal Point, highlighted the workshop as a preparatory phase ahead of nationwide citizen consultations across Benin’s twelve departments. These consultations aim to gather public priorities, which will be analyzed, prioritized, and integrated into the first draft of the National Action Plan. Codjovi underscored the inclusive nature of the process, designed to reflect the needs and expectations of all citizens.

Strengthening existing reforms through measurable commitments

Jean-Pierre Degue, Vice President of the OGP Technical Committee, noted that Benin already boasts significant progress in budget transparency and citizen participation. The challenge now, he said, is to convert these achievements into quantifiable commitments within the OGP framework. International expert Gustavo Pérez Ara reinforced this perspective by outlining the partnership’s three core pillars—citizen participation, transparency, and accountability—and commending Benin’s existing administrative dialogue with civil society as a solid foundation for future progress.

Chaired by Chabi Kassim Taba, Counselor at the Court of Auditors, the workshop facilitated in-depth discussions on embedding open governance principles into public institutions’ daily operations. The recommendations emerging from these deliberations, combined with insights from departmental consultations, will form the backbone of Benin’s first OGP National Action Plan.

International support for a transparent future

The initiative is backed by key partners, including the PAGOF2 program by Expertise France, GIZ, the Swiss Cooperation, UNICEF, and the European Union. Their collaboration underscores the shared commitment to fostering a more open, accountable, and participatory governance model in Benin.