Benin: ECOWAS Evaluates Seven Regional Projects on the Ground

The Resident Representation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Benin and the ECOWAS National Office conducted a joint field monitoring mission from 31 August to 5 September 2026. The operation aimed to assess the progress of projects and programs funded by ECOWAS agencies and institutions, identify challenges encountered, and strengthen coordination among stakeholders.

Organized into two teams to cover the northern and southern regions of the country, the delegation carried out twenty site visits and eighteen institutional meetings with prefectural and local authorities.

Field Monitoring Focused on Seven Sectoral Interventions

The field visits covered seven interventions across seventeen Beninese municipalities. The sectors included revitalizing the local dairy value chain, fodder production, and enhancing the skills and employability of youth in agricultural and agro-silvopastoral sectors. Teams also examined initiatives in agroecological training, the health sector, and cross-border cooperation.

The findings highlighted operational progress. The mission noted increased production and processing capacities for certain dairy units, improved technical and entrepreneurial skills among trained youth, as well as the completion of infrastructure and delivery of equipment for local economic activities.

Material and Coordination Constraints

Despite these achievements, several obstacles were identified by evaluators. Key challenges included access to planned equipment, insufficient post-training support for beneficiaries, and coordination gaps among implementing actors.

Discussions with municipal authorities also underscored institutional expectations. Local elected officials emphasized the need for greater municipal involvement in direct project monitoring and called for increased visibility of ECOWAS support among local populations.

Recommendations for Sustaining Results

At the end of the mission, the Resident Representation and the National Office issued guidelines to establish more regular proximity monitoring and streamline operational consultation mechanisms. These measures aim to ensure the sustainability of gains for Benin’s population.

These efforts align with ECOWAS’s Vision 2050, operationalized in the 2023-2027 Community Strategic Framework, which envisions a fully integrated, peaceful, and prosperous community of peoples.