Benin report - Institut Africain de la Gouvernance

More documents

Recommendations

Info

CHAPTER EIGHT: GENERAL CONCLUSIONS: CONSTRAINTS AND PROSPECTS__________________________________________________________________________1000. However, it should be emphasised that the programme of the governmententails a series of reforms aimed at ensuring increased participation of thestakeholders. Indeed, the conditions for greater participation exist in Benin,since civil society is already relatively active in the country and is committedto the defence of human rights and the improvement of the conditions of thepoorest social groups. The current government has implemented theseprogrammes through a more active participation from civil society, politicalparties, the private sector, and all economic players, as well as all regions ofthe country. In addition, development partners are providing increasingsupport for actions aimed at strengthening credible civil society organisations.1001. In the area of accountability, the government has agreed to review theconstitution in 2008 in order to achieve greater effectiveness of the separationand balance of power between the Executive, the judiciary and Parliament.The president of the republic plans to strengthen, as part of the review, thefollowing constitutional provisions: (i) the impossibility of each of the powersto encroach upon or wipe out the prerogatives of the other two; (ii) theeffective exercise of the role of independent arbitrator by the authorities of thejudicial power; and (iii) the clear definition of the missions and responsibilitiesof the institutions, as well as the implementation of mechanisms of theirinteraction and collaboration. It is expected that this review will be theoccasion to transform the Chamber of Accounts into an audit office.1002. In the area of justice, the implementation of the PIRSJ facilitated the adoptionof the laws on the bench, the judicial administration, the status of theopposition and the new Charter of Political Parties. At the same time,government is currently carrying out a budgetary reform focused on results,which will pave the way for better internal and external control of publicexpenditures.1003. Finally, on the whole, fiduciary risks have been reduced since Benin initiatedthe implementation of the recommendations of the CFAA (carried out in 2005)and of the analytical review of the public procurement system (CPAR –carried out in 2003). In addition, in July 2007 Benin completed the report ofthe review of public expenditures (PEFA).1004. Overall, although the political risks are real, they have been reduced by thegovernment‟s desire and commitment to implement the necessary reforms:1005. At the economic level, the vulnerability of the Beninese economy –associated with the existence of a monoculture export – constitutes the mainchallenge facing Benin. This requires diversification of the sources ofeconomic growth (which is essentially based on cotton and trade) with a viewto significantly reducing the level of poverty.1006. The risk associated with the low diversification of production (cottonrepresents the main export revenue) and fluctuations of the rainfall pattern(which affect agricultural production) is expected to reduce with the progressmade in the implementation of the strategy and programme for rural andagricultural development. These achievements will be consolidated with the308
CHAPTER EIGHT: GENERAL CONCLUSIONS: CONSTRAINTS AND PROSPECTS__________________________________________________________________________results expected from the implementation of the Private Sector RecoveryProgramme, which is a full component of the GPRS (2007-2009).1007. Despite an economic situation that, on the whole, is currently experiencing afavourable trend, progress registered at the macroeconomic level has notsucceeded in significantly reducing the phenomenon of poverty – anothermajor constraint and challenge of development in Benin that affects more than30% of the population. This situation is a consequence of the concentration ofproduction around one branch, as well as poor redistribution of the benefits ofgrowth, which makes it impossible to effectively fight poverty in Benin. Anaverage growth of more than 5% is expected under the GPRS, and this willsignificantly reduce the incidence of poverty. To that end, and with the supportof development partners, the strategy of the government must continue to relyon a stable macroeconomic framework in the medium term. The governmentshould pursue the improvement of the basic economic infrastructures, and givepreference to expenditure sectors that contribute directly to poverty reduction.To that end, the reforms implemented will help to address the constraints inthe area of improvement of the legal protection of business, fiscalresponsibility, customs duties, management of public utility services, andfinally, the development of infrastructure.1008. To reduce the cost of production factors, the government plans to pursue themodernisation of its financial and banking system and improve theperformance of public structures that supply strategic goods. Benin shouldaccelerate the pace of implementation of its privatisation and liberalisationprogramme in order to establish the long-term bases for its developmentthrough: (i) the actual sale of ginneries of SONAPRA; (ii) the concession ofthe current electricity company; (iii) the completion of the privatisation oftelecommunications; (iv) the implementation of the second phase of the studyon the privatisation of port management, and the preparation of an action planto implement its main recommendations; and (v) the development andoperationalisation of a new regulatory framework for the electricity andtelecommunications sectors. Apart from these measures – which thegovernment intends to pursue in order to promote the different sectors thatconstitute sources of growth – the government should be able to takeadvantage of the AGOA initiative, which offers markets for textile products.1009. Another important risk concerns the dependency of the Beninese economy onpolitical and economic development in Nigeria. As Benin‟s main trade partner,Nigeria constitutes an opportunity but also a risk for development and povertyreduction in Benin. The risk will, however, be reduced by the success of thestructural reforms – notably those concerning improvement of thecompetitiveness of the Cotonou Port Authority with a view to making it acommercial platform. Furthermore, Benin plans to strengthen its customssystem in order to get the most it can from its strategic position as the gatewayto the Sahelean countries.1010. Concerning the fight against corruption, considerable efforts are stillnecessary in order to eliminate the many constraints at this level. In thisregard, the government has adopted a national strategic plan for the fight309
Page 5:
Finally, the APR Panel would like t
Page 9 and 10:
of democracy, tolerance and fair pl
Page 11 and 12:
COUNTRY FACT SHEETLocation:West Afr
Page 13 and 14:
SOME ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL INDICAT
Page 15 and 16:
Prospects for economic growth in me
Page 17 and 18:
CSARCSRDCREDEPOLIPODFIDGIDDIVIDNMPE
Page 19 and 20:
SONAPRASONEBSPTSTASTAGSTARSYSCOASYS
Page 21 and 22:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY__________________
Page 23 and 24:
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30:
Page 31 and 32:
Page 33:
Page 36 and 37:
Page 38 and 39:
Page 40 and 41:
Page 42 and 43:
Page 44 and 45:
Page 46 and 47:
Page 48 and 49:
Page 50 and 51:
Page 52 and 53:
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: THE APRM
Page 54 and 55:
Page 56 and 57:
Page 58 and 59:
Page 60 and 61:
Page 62 and 63:
Page 64 and 65:
CHAPTER TWO: HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND
Page 66 and 67:
Page 68 and 69:
Page 70 and 71:
Page 72 and 73:
Page 74 and 75:
Page 76 and 77:
Page 78 and 79:
CHAPTER THREE: DEMOCRACY AND POLITI
Page 80 and 81:
Page 82 and 83:
Page 84 and 85:
Page 86 and 87:
Page 88 and 89:
Page 90 and 91:
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
Page 98 and 99:
Page 100 and 101:
Page 102 and 103:
Page 104 and 105:
Page 106 and 107:
Page 108 and 109:
Page 110 and 111:
Page 112 and 113:
Page 114 and 115:
Page 116 and 117:
Page 118 and 119:
Page 120 and 121:
Page 122 and 123:
Page 124 and 125:
Page 126 and 127:
Page 128 and 129:
Page 130 and 131:
Page 132 and 133:
Page 134 and 135:
Page 136 and 137:
Page 138 and 139:
Page 140 and 141:
Page 142 and 143:
Page 144 and 145:
Page 146 and 147:
Page 148 and 149:
Page 150 and 151:
CHAPTER FOUR: ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE A
Page 152 and 153:
Page 154 and 155:
Page 156 and 157:
Page 158 and 159:
Page 160 and 161:
Page 162 and 163:
Page 164 and 165:
Page 166 and 167:
Page 168 and 169:
Page 170 and 171:
Page 172 and 173:
Page 174 and 175:
Page 176 and 177:
Page 178 and 179:
Page 180 and 181:
Page 182 and 183:
Page 184 and 185:
Page 186 and 187:
Page 188 and 189:
Page 190 and 191:
Page 192 and 193:
Page 194 and 195:
Page 196 and 197:
Page 198 and 199:
Page 200 and 201:
Page 202 and 203:
CHAPTER FIVE: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE_
Page 204 and 205:
Page 206 and 207:
Page 208 and 209:
Page 210 and 211:
Page 212 and 213:
Page 214 and 215:
Page 216 and 217:
Page 218 and 219:
Page 220 and 221:
Page 222 and 223:
Page 224 and 225:
Page 226 and 227:
Page 228 and 229:
Page 230 and 231:
Page 232 and 233:
Page 234 and 235:
Page 236 and 237:
Page 238 and 239:
Page 240 and 241:
Page 242 and 243:
Page 244 and 245:
Page 246 and 247:
Page 248 and 249:
Page 250 and 251:
Page 252 and 253:
Page 254 and 255:
Page 256 and 257:
Page 258 and 259:
Page 260 and 261:
Page 262 and 263:
Page 264 and 265:
CHAPTER SIX: SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPM
Page 266 and 267:
Page 268 and 269:
Page 270 and 271:
Page 272 and 273:
Page 274 and 275:
Page 276 and 277:
Page 278 and 279: CHAPTER SIX: SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPM
Page 308 and 309: CHAPTER SEVEN: CROSSCUTTING ISSUES_
Page 330 and 331: CHAPTER EIGHT: GENERAL CONCLUSIONS:
Page 332 and 333: APPENDIX I: PROGRAMME OF ACTION OF
Page 378 and 379:
APPENDIX I: PROGRAMME OF ACTION OF
Page 380 and 381:
Page 382 and 383:
Page 384 and 385:
Page 386 and 387:
Page 388 and 389:
Page 390 and 391:
Page 392 and 393:
Page 394 and 395:
Page 396 and 397:
Page 398 and 399:
Page 400 and 401:
Page 402 and 403:
Page 404 and 405:
Page 406 and 407:
Page 408 and 409:
APPENDIX II: BENINESE GOVERNMENT CO
Page 410 and 411:
Page 412 and 413:
Page 414 and 415:
Page 416 and 417:
Page 418 and 419:
Page 420 and 421:
Page 422 and 423:
APPENDIX III: REPORT ON THE PEER RE
Page 424 and 425:
Page 426 and 427:
Page 428 and 429:
Page 430 and 431:
Page 432 and 433:
Page 434:
show all

Benin report - Institut Africain de la Gouvernance

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?