Bénin launches first national open government action plan

Nearly 18 months after joining the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Bénin hosted a five-day national workshop in Cotonou from July 27 to 31, 2026. The event brought together government officials, civil society representatives, private sector actors, technical and financial partners, and media professionals to lay the groundwork for the country’s first National Action Plan.

The workshop aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of OGP principles and initiate a collaborative process for drafting the country’s commitments under the partnership. Key themes included transparency, accountability, access to information, anti-corruption measures, and citizen participation—all of which align with reforms already underway in Bénin.

Building on existing reforms

Victorin Honvoh, Director of Cabinet at the Ministry of Budget and Public Service, opened the event by framing Bénin’s OGP membership as a continuation of ongoing efforts to modernize governance. He highlighted transparency and citizen engagement as central pillars of the government’s agenda, emphasizing the need for structured dialogue between state institutions and non-state actors to ensure the plan’s success.

Mireille Hortense Codjovi, Director of the Open Budget Unit and National OGP Focal Point, outlined the next steps: nationwide consultations in all 12 departments to gather public priorities. These inputs will be analyzed, prioritized, and integrated into the first draft of the National Action Plan, she explained.

From principles to measurable commitments

Jean-Pierre Degue, Vice-President of the OGP Technical Committee, underscored that while Bénin has made progress in budget transparency and citizen participation, the challenge now lies in translating these achievements into concrete, measurable commitments within the OGP framework. He noted that the existing collaboration between administration and civil society provides a strong foundation for this process.

International expert Gustavo Pérez Ara reinforced this view, detailing the OGP’s three core pillars—citizen participation, transparency, and accountability—and stressing their interdependence. The workshop, chaired by Chabi Kassim Taba, Advisor to the Court of Auditors, allowed participants to explore practical ways to embed these principles into public institutions.

The recommendations from the workshop, combined with feedback from the departmental consultations, will form the basis for Bénin’s inaugural OGP National Action Plan—a roadmap for more open, responsive, and accountable governance.

The initiative is supported by several partners, including Expertise France’s PAGOF2 program, GIZ, the Swiss Cooperation, UNICEF, and the European Union.