Development Challenge Other Donors Activity & Budget Information Summary Tables Program Summary Strategic Objective Summary USAID Search: Benin Previous Years' Activities 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 Wednesday, 29-May-2002 18:52:46 EDT

Introduction

Benin continues to be of interest to the United States because of its democratic, free market society and the strengthening of its democratic institutions. Benin hosted the Fourth International Conference on New and Reestablished Democracy for the first time in Africa. Benin is a trade corridor for landlocked West African Economic and Monetary Union countries. For these reasons, Benin is important to U.S. national interests for promotion of democracy, U.S. exports to Benin, economic development, and regional stability and security.

The Development Challenge

The third presidential elections, held in Benin in March 2001, are pivotal to the nation's efforts to sustain its democratic renewal. In the context of the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (the "Initiative"), Benin will continue to combat poverty by improving health and education levels, implement structural reforms, promote private sector development and thus set the stage for high and sustainable growth. Under the Initiative, Benin received debt relief in FY 2000, of 3.5 billion CFA (approximately $ 4.7 million). A large portion was earmarked for increased spending in the social sectors.

USAID assistance to Benin is designed to contribute directly to several U.S. foreign policy interests as set forth in the State Department's International Affairs Strategic Plan. USAID focuses on three sectors: the education sector promotes quality education for children; the health sector promotes the increased use of preventive health measures and family health services; and the democracy sector promotes improved governance and reinforced democracy.

Notwithstanding significant progress over the past decade, the education sector faces many challenges. Although the government affords high priority to basic education, public expenditures on education are still below the Sub-Saharan average. Partially due to management inefficiencies and inadequate professional personnel, less than 50% of the allocated budget is utilized. Enrollment in rural areas and for girls remains low. Gross school enrollment is not yet universal. The dropout rate is very high, with only 40% of children who attend school completing primary education. USAID is assisting the Government of Benin (GOB) to increase gross enrollment rates, increase access to education, and improve both the qualities of school instruction and the physical environment. USAID also supports efforts that encourage greater parent and wider community participation in primary education issues. USAID has succeeded in raising the gross enrollment rate from 57% in 1991 to 81% today. The quality of primary education has been improved with the training of teachers in student-focused pedagogical approaches and the development and production of new curricula, textbooks and workbooks. Girls' enrollment and school dropouts are monitored under this activity. Girls' enrollment is slowly increasing while school dropouts are gaining increased access to technical skills to improve their socio-economic status. Parent-teacher associations are better managed to participate actively in support of school activities.

Population and health indicators are very low in Benin. Child malnutrition is high, with 29% of children under 3 years underweight. Preventable illnesses, such as malaria, diarrhea, and acute respiratory infections are the major causes of morbidity and mortality of children. Fertility rates and population growth are still high. Although the HIV prevalence rate is relatively low, it will likely rise rapidly without an adequate and intensified policy response. Segments of the population remain inadequately serviced by the public health system. While public health expenditures remain low, the private health sector, both profit and non-profit, has grown rapidly in urban areas. These trends present challenges to the role of the public sector and to public health policy. USAID is working with the Government of Benin to improve public health policies, to improve the quality and management of community-based health services, and to ensure that HIV/AIDS, along with other important maternal-child health and other family health interventions, is included in basic health services. With special attention to HIV/AIDS, the program focuses on behavioral change to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

After a decade of democracy, Benin is still struggling with issues of public transparency and accountability in governance and the low participation of civil society in national decision making. Issues of public management and low utilization of budget resources impacts on the provision and sustainability of services, especially for education and health. Corruption pervades the government but public awareness and intolerance for it is growing, and the government is taking action, although sporadic, to address these concerns. USAID's activities in democracy and governance are important contributors to obtaining sustainable results in the health and education sectors. These sectors also create an environment for greater civil society participation in national decision making, improving access to economic resources through micro-finance and appropriate technology, and increasing public transparency and accountability. USAID is working with the national legislature to improve the checks and balances on the executive branch as well as supporting non-governmental organizations and the national audit institutions in their efforts to combat corruption.

Other Donors

The United States was the fifth largest bilateral donor and was ranked second in the amount of technical assistance it provided to Benin. In 1999 Benin received $216.1 million in foreign assistance. Major donors and multilateral financiers are the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, European Union, France, Germany, African Development Bank, Denmark, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

FY 2002 Program

USAID's program for 2002 will continue to support Benin's development efforts through three mutually reinforcing objectives.

In the education sector, USAID will continue to assist the Ministry of Education with the expansion of the primary education reform program, emphasizing improved pedagogical approaches and learning materials. Existing priorities under this sector are increasing school enrollment, enhancing gender and geographic equity and improving learning outcomes in primary education. A key objective is to reduce repetition rates and to improve basic quality standards. USAID will assist the Ministry of Education to improve its financial management and improve the ministry's capacity to plan and manage effective education programs. The program will encourage local government and community involvement in education.

In the health sector, USAID will increase demand and availability of family planning, maternal and child health, and sexually transmitted infections/HIV preventive services in the Borgou region in rural northern Benin where health conditions are the worst. While the majority of activities supporting the health program will focus on the Borgou region, selected health interventions in HIV/AIDS, integrated management of childhood illness, and health policy reform will be implemented at the national level. Reproductive health interventions will also be targeted at the national level. The program will support decentralization to improve coverage.

To improve governance, and public transparency and accountability, USAID will continue to provide technical and managerial assistance for electoral reform, strengthening the legislature and local governments, enhancing civil society advocacy, reinforcing the national audit institutions, and combating corruption. To contribute to decentralized economic growth and community participation in local revenue generation, USAID will continue to finance the development of small-scale technologies and enhance the sustainability of local micro-credit institutions. Furthermore, USAID will support free and fair national and local elections.

P.L. 480 Title II resources, distributed through Catholic Relief Services, reach all regions of Benin and contribute directly to supporting community-based activities that are integral to achieving results in USAID's education, health and democracy programs. This program addresses household food security issues through mother/child health and nutrition, micro-credit, and school feeding activities. In 2002 this program will start an integrated approach that facilitates access to essential foods, quality education, and revenue generation, making it possible for villagers to afford education and health services and contribute financially to community development activities.

Activity Data Sheets

• 680-001, More Children Receive a Quality Basic Education on an Equitable Basis
• 680-002, Increased Use of Family Health Services and Preventive Measures in a Supportive Policy Environment
• 680-003, Improved Governance and Reinforced Democracy

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