Bénin’s government has implemented a sweeping reform transferring the oversight of contract-based health personnel to the country’s 77 municipalities. The directive, signed on July 23, 2026 by the Minister of Decentralization and Local Governance, Rodrigue Sèwènan Chaou, marks a deliberate effort to decentralize human resource management and strengthen local healthcare delivery.

Regular salaries and enhanced medical coverage

Under this new framework, contract health workers hired for the 2025 cohort will receive their monthly salaries no later than the 20th of each month, aligning their payment schedule with that of permanent civil servants. This measure eliminates delays and ensures financial stability for medical staff serving at the grassroots level.

The reform also places medical coverage for these workers under municipal control. Local councils now directly manage health service provision for contract employees, enabling faster processing of claims and improved access to medical care for frontline healthcare providers across Bénin.