Benin report - Institut Africain de la Gouvernance

CHAPTER SIX: SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT__________________________________________________________________________example, is an organisation comprising some 60 very active associations,federations and confederations involved in the fight against excesses.Sensitisation, denunciation and pressure campaigns by civil societyorganisations and FONAC have generally created significant awareness in thepeople vis-à-vis the administration. Such efforts are still acclaimed by thepublic. For some years now, civil society has been very active in politics, inthe defence of the rights of consumers, and in the promotion of social welfare.894. Decentralisation also offers Benin an excellent opportunity to ensure theparticipation of stakeholders, through greater involvement in local councils, indevelopment programmes and projects. The country has a rich history ofattempts to decentralise. These led to the current system of administrationthanks to the February 1990 National Sovereign Conference. The conferencecame up with a new constitution, which contained the major principles ofdecentralisation reforms aimed at empowering the grass-roots populationthrough elected councils. Based on these principles, a decentralisation policywas drafted. Deconcentration, within a legal framework established by theconstitution and five other laws voted between 1994 and 1999, was defined.After the reforms were initiated, local elections were organised in December2002, town and municipal councils established, and mayors elected. AlthoughBenin is heavily engaged in decentralisation, the process is still in itsexperimental phase. This is why elected local officials quite often complainabout the lack of resources because they are not being disbursed by the centralauthorities. Although the goal of a shared management of social services(schools, health centres, markets, bus stations, and so on) has been achieved,there is still much to be done about governance within decentralised structures.These structures at times have difficulties cohabiting with deconcentratedadministrative services.895. The private sector in Benin also has to play a major role in the process ofstakeholder participation. There is a real potential for the development of theBeninese private sector, especially in the agribusiness, tourism and handicraftsectors. However, there are many obstacles to its development, particularly atthe level of land, the legal protection of businesses, taxes and custom duties,public utilities management, and infrastructure development (ports,telecommunication services, water and electricity).896. With regard to participation, and with special reference to the GPRS, theprivate sector is seen as the cornerstone of strong and sustainable growthcapable of reducing poverty. However, stakeholders and leaders in the privatesector have, in the past, complained and have expressed their feelings by notparticipating fully in the drafting of government development strategies andpolicies. As a result, an ad hoc committee was set up in April 2003 to ensuregreater involvement of the private sector and civil society in theimplementation of the GPRS. The interim secretariat of the ad hoc committeewas appointed and entrusted with the responsibility of preparing an action planto:Improve the participatory process.284