1. INTEGRATING NPoA AND APRM: THE CASE OF BENIN
Prof Sylvain H. Boko
Head, Regional Advisors Team/Development Planning and Statistics Cluster
UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)

2. The APRM Imperative Commitment of African Heads of States to
eradicate poverty
place the continent on a growth and sustainable development trajectory
Democracy and Governance at the heart of the African leaders’ and populations’ quest for social, political, and economic renewal
Hence the establishment of the APRM mechanism and the signing of the basic APRM documents by the HOSG in Abuja in 2003

3. The APRM as a Governance Mechanism
APRM as a self-evaluation instrument voluntarily adhered to by member states
Main Objective:
Adopt policies, standards and practices to promote democracy, political stability, economic growth and sustainable development.
Thematic Focus include:
Political Governance
Economic Governance and Management
Corporate Governance
Socio-economic Development

4. The APRM as a Governance Mechanism
Official stages include:
Country Self-Assessment and Preliminary National Programme of Action
Country Visit by Country Review Team
Draft Country Report Prepared and Presented to Gov
Final Country Report an Final NPoA sent to APRM Forum and Country Peer Reviewed
Country Report officially tabled at regional and sub-regional levels 6 months later
Unofficial additional stages include:
Institutional Capacity building
Harmonizing APRM with Pre-exisiting National Plans
Implementation and Monitoring of NPoA
Evaluation and Learning from NPoA
Corrective Action
Peer Learning

5. Benin at a glance Indicators Area 112,673km2 Population 9,983,884
Area
112,673km2
Population
9,983,884
Population Growth
3.20%
Life Expectancy
61.4 yrs
HDI (2013)
0.476

8. Planning and Poverty Reduction Strategy in Benin
Initial year: 2000, followed by 2 more generations
Outgrown from several strategic studies, including:
The National Long-term Perspective Studies
The “Benin-Alafia (Prosperity) 2025”
National Strategic Development Orientations
Latest: Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy covers

9. Aligning the Benin NPoA to the GPRS
Components of the GPRS:
Economic Growth and Transformation
Infrastructure Development
Human Capital Development
Improving the Quality of Governance
Sustainable et Equitable Development of the National Space
The NPoA was built around the 4th component of the GPRS

10. Aligning the Benin NPoA to the GPRS
Benin NPoA Thematic Areas:
Democracy and Political Governance
Economic Management and Governance
Corporate Governance
Socio-economic Development

11. Implementing the APRM in Benin
2004: Signature of APRM MOU
2005: Establishing the APRM Independent National Commission to launch APRM Activities (97)
2006: Official Establishment of National APRM Implementation Commission
2009: Establishment of the Current NGC (13)
National Focal Point: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
4-member Executive Committee (Chair, First Vice-Chair, Second Vice-Chair, Rapporteur)

12. Implementing the APRM in Benin
Technical Committees, each supporting a thematic area through technical studies (Aligned to 4 Technical Research Institutions, or TRIs)
Recruitment of a National Coordinator
APRM cells installed in all 77 Districts and 6 Provincial Prefectures of the country, insuring citizen engagement and social accountability.
In total 631 APRM representatives at the sub national level
A focal point in each Ministry and each institution of the Republic
Civil Society
Media

13. Implementing the APRM in Benin
Training of Participants
Social Mobilization
Exchanges Visits
Research (Interim Studies and Reports from RTIs)
National Consultations
Analysis of Interim TRI Thematic Reports and National Consultation Reports (External experts/resource persons)
Seminar to validate interim TRI thematic reports and results of national consultations
Releasing the Self-Assessment Report to public validation
Finalizing self-assessment report and submission to APRM Secretariat
Review Missions and Presentation of the Peer Report

14. Financing APRM/NPoA Implementation
Estimated Cost of NPoA: $2.34 bn
NPoA as % of GDP: 13
Govt Financing of NPoA: 10%
Initial Phase ($500,000):
Govt of Benin: $50,000
UNDP: $150,000
ADB: $200,000
ACBF: $50,000
Hans Seidel Fund: $50,000

15. Financing APRM/NPoA Implementation: Elements of a UNDP et all APRM Support Project
Results
Budget en USD
R1 : Capacity of the APRM CNG and its subnational Components Reinforced and Functional
R2 : The APRM National Plan of Actions is Known and Appropriated at all Levels
60 000
R3 : The Political and Administrative Constraints to the Implementation of the NPoA are removed
281 000
R4: The Monitoring and Evaluation of the Implementation of the National Plan of Actions is Carried out
683 000
R5 : The APRM is provided qualified personnel and operational means to carry out its mission

16. APRM Evaluation Reports/Assessments Results
Positive impact on citizen’s engagement and social accountability
High level of political commitment and support
Knowledge of APRM activities around of the country
Challenges continue, including:
Lack of qualified personnel and capacity at the APRM Secretariat
Lack of capacity to support the CNG
Misunderstanding between the current national focal point and the CNG
Funding Instability

17. THANK YOU!!