Benin

After 17 years under a socialist military regime, in 1989 Benin became the first state in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve a peaceful and self-determined system change towards a pluralistic and democratic form of government. Since then, the West African coastal state has long been regarded as a model of democratic consolidation, although this positive image has suffered a few cracks.

Even though the country is experiencing stable economic growth and joined the group of countries with low middle incomes in 2020, the majority of the population is still waiting for a noticeable improvement in their living conditions. This applies in particular to rural regions far from the economic centre in the south of the country, but also to the high proportion of informal workers, who make up over 90% of the working population. Despite their contribution to the country's economic performance, they are often not given sufficient consideration in decision-making processes and government policies. Accordingly, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Benin is working with its partners to strengthen the organisation and representation of informal workers. Improving working conditions in the informal economy is an important lever for an inclusive socio-ecological transformation. Accordingly, the FES supports the consolidation of the platform of actors in the informal economy (Union Nationale des Acteurs de l'Économie Informelle du Bénin, UNAEIB).

Migration and labour mobility are also part of everyday reality in Benin and the region and are closely linked to local development issues. The FES partners, in particular the multi-stakeholder platform Migration in Benin (PMB), are committed to a rights-based approach to regular and irregular labour migration and better involvement of all stakeholders. Due to its location between the Sahel region and the Gulf of Guinea, the small coastal state plays a strategically important role. The deteriorating security situation, particularly in the neighbouring states of Burkina Faso and Niger, is not only a burden on the country's economic development, but is also fuelling fears of a further increase in violent extremism and terrorism. The measures already taken by the government are flanked by the FES through a locally anchored, inclusive approach that is orientated towards the perceptions and needs of the population. In particular, it is focussing on the formation of alliances of socio-political actors who are committed to civil and crisis-prevention approaches.

In its work, the FES focuses on active citizenship, supporting young adults and women in particular to become more involved in political debates and decision-making processes. With its Jeunes Leaders du Bénin (JLB) programme, it has been supporting young activists from civil society, political parties, trade unions and the private sector for over ten years. In all its activities, FES Benin follows the approach of creating spaces for inclusive, open and constructive dialogue.

Learn more about our work in Benin on the project's website.