UEMOA Review: Benin to Assess Implementation of Reforms and Community Projects

Between November 4 and 5, 2024, the 10th annual review of UEMOA political reforms, programs, and community projects will be held in Cotonou.

Abdul Wahab ADO

Objective of the Review

Taking stock of the implementation of reforms and community projects in Benin is the objective of the 10th annual review held in Cotonou. Opening the work, Yawovi Batchassi, the resident representative of the UEMOA Commission, explained that the review exercise will make it possible to measure the progress.

According to Yawovi Batchassi, “the annual review established for more than a decade by the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Union creates a healthy simulation within the Member States that are redoubled their efforts in applying reforms and policies as well with the implementation of community programs and projects…”.

He added that “the last nine issues of the journal have generated enthusiasm and strong support from member states. This has made it possible to boost the national system for monitoring the implementation of community texts, in terms of their effective transposition and application.”

Community Reforms and Projects

The resident representative of the UEMOA Commission added that approximately 133 texts will be examined under community reforms in the areas of Governance, during the current work; The Common Market and Sectoral Reforms.

Representing the Minister of Finance, Habib Tidjani, technical advisor to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, explained that the internalization of reforms by member states makes it possible to strengthen unity within the community space and pool forces and experiences.

He noted that a number of reforms and policies relating to the areas of economic governance and convergence, the common market and sectoral reforms are being implemented with satisfaction thanks to the Government’s Action Program (2021-2026).

As an example, he mentioned, “the average rate of implementation of community reforms in 2023 in Benin is 72.84% compared to 69.83% in 2022, an increase of 3 points”.

Review and Assessment

The MEF Technical Advisor noted that this review will once again act as a framework to assess Benin’s capabilities, taking into account UEMOA reforms, programs, and projects as well as the speed of their implementation.

Before launching the meeting, he added that the review will allow the technical team of the UEMOA Commission, experts, and focal points to take stock of the implementation of one hundred and thirty-two (132) community actions against one hundred and thirty-one (131) operating in 2023.

Additionally, the review will cover the presentation of Regulation No. 02/2023/CM/UEMOA of June 16, 2023, relating to the Community Mining Code for this edition of the annual review and progress level four (04) of UEMOA projects and programs being implemented currently in Benin related to the fields of agriculture, livestock, energy, and transport infrastructure.

Furthermore, there are four programs and projects, funded up to 4.8 billion by the Commission.