Benin report - Institut Africain de la Gouvernance

CHAPTER SIX: SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT__________________________________________________________________________average of 3.25% (as per GPHC 2002); and promoting a lastingdevelopment policy that incorporates all of the concepts relevant to theproblem.Diversifying the sources of economic growth, which today hinge on cottonand trade. This should reduce the poverty level significantly through aninclusive and participatory approach, and should ensure the equitabledistribution of growth spin-offs. The niches that are most likely tocontribute to this diversification are the services sector, biodiversity andmodern agriculture, with its promotion of high value added products likepalm oil and rice in the Ouémé Valley. The ongoing experiences – notablythose provided by the NGO Songhaï, which will be described in Objective4 – do give hope for the future.The capacity, at the external level, to develop and maintain a dynamicpartnership with all the TFPs and ensure the follow-up and efficientcoordination of these actors.iii.Recommendations of the APR Panel781. Based on the analyses and emerging challenges, the APR Panel recommendsthe following measures:1. Build economic growth on a structured and expanding basis in order toreduce poverty through massive investment and job creation. In thisregard, special measures should be taken to ensure that this growth is „propoor‟by insisting on job creation in the appropriate areas and through thesectors likely to diversify growth. The aim of the measures should beeventually to support, or replace, the cotton sector. The sectors likely todiversify growth include renovated and diversified agriculture, industriesto process raw materials, tourism and services. Similarly, there is a need toplan the establishment of efficient redistribution mechanisms (governmentand the private sector).2. Progressively include the other components in the sustainable developmentprocess. These should include (especially) the promotion of human capitalthrough capacity building, and by building ownership of the SED processthrough the effective participation of all people in the development andimplementation of policies and programmes (government).3. Preserve fragile and limited natural resources (water, soil, forests andbiodiversity) to achieve sustainable development by preserving ecosystemsand by improving the public health of citizens by managing waste,sanitation and atmospheric pollution better, especially in towns(government, civil society and the private sector).256