Benin: Technical Assistance Report-Governance Diagnostic

This technical assistance report on Benin presents the governance diagnostic. The current President of the Republic Patrice Talon has repeatedly stressed the major importance of good governance for the country’s future and has made it a strong focus of his second term. The Governance Diagnostic shed light on very positive developments in recent or ongoing reforms, but also highlighted what needs to be done to overcome the weaknesses in governance in some areas. Rule of law, contract execution, and protection of property rights have seen some progress. The planned creation of a court specializing in land matters and the establishment of a Commercial Court of Appeal will be welcome additions. Public financial management has seen considerable progress, recognized in particular by the Open Budget Survey 2021. Nevertheless, efforts must still be made to reap all the benefits of the transition to program-based budgeting as far as the administration’s accountability is concerned and to finalize the internal audit and control reform, an essential counterweight to the new responsibilities entrusted to managers.