Benin launches first national open government action plan

Eighteen months after joining the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Benin 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. The primary goal was to deepen understanding of OGP principles and lay the groundwork for the country’s inaugural National Action Plan.

Key stakeholders engage in co-creation process

The workshop served as a platform for collaborative development of the National Action Plan, with participants working together to define measurable commitments. Victorin Honvoh, cabinet director at the Ministry of Budget and Public Service, emphasized that Benin’s OGP membership builds upon existing reforms focused on transparency, accountability, access to information, anti-corruption efforts, and citizen participation.

Honvoh stressed that successful implementation requires ongoing dialogue between government agencies and non-state actors. He urged participants to develop concrete proposals that reflect the core principles of open governance.

Consultations to shape national priorities

Mireille Hortense Codjovi, Director of the Open Budget Unit and national OGP focal point, outlined the next phase of the process: nationwide consultations across all twelve departments. These citizen engagements aim to identify priority areas that will inform the development of Benin’s first OGP National Action Plan.

Codjovi explained that input from these consultations will be systematically analyzed, prioritized, and incorporated into the draft plan. The approach ensures that the final document reflects the needs and aspirations of Beninese citizens.

Transforming existing progress into measurable commitments

Jean-Pierre Degue, Vice President of the OGP Technical Committee, highlighted that Benin already possesses strong foundations in budget transparency and citizen engagement. The challenge now lies in translating these achievements into specific, verifiable commitments under the OGP framework.

Gustavo Pérez Ara, an international expert, reinforced this perspective by presenting the OGP’s three fundamental pillars: citizen participation, transparency, and accountability. He commended the constructive dialogue between Benin’s administration and civil society as a valuable asset for advancing the process.

Chabi Kassim Taba, advisor to the Court of Auditors, led the working sessions that examined practical approaches to integrating open government principles into public institutions’ operations. The workshop’s recommendations, combined with departmental consultation findings, will form the basis for Benin’s inaugural OGP National Action Plan.