EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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Democratic changeover at the helm of state affairs.
The Constitutional Court of Benin, efficiency in the service of democracy, rule of law
and fundamental liberties.
The directory of reference prices.
Women in the Beninese armed forces.
Songhaï, an alternative manner of development.
The presidential programme in micro-finance.
The framework for interfaith consultation.
The association ‘Qui dit Mieux’: Employment promotion and environmental
protection.
The extensive APRM national consultation process.
4.
CONCLUSION
4.1
Benin has made enormous progress in the four focus areas of the APRM
assessment, particularly since the democratic renewal phase. However, it still
has to meet a number of major challenges, given the shortcomings in its
achievements and the requirements of its future by 2025 (see the section on
challenges in point 4.3 below).
4.2
The authorities are well aware of these challenges and seem determined to
meet them, given the lessons of the history of the country and the aim of
achieving its goal of becoming an emerging country by 2025. That is why,
together with the National Sovereign Conference, the authorities have defined
a long-term vision for the country and translated it into strategic development
orientations that constitute the framework for the definition of GPRS policies
or sector policies.
4.3
Benin does have strengths in political terms, in the economic sphere and at the
social level (see below). All these resources enable the country to develop a
strong productive base, prepare its entry into the club of Africa’s emergent
countries, and allow it to benefit from the opportunities offered by
globalisation.
Strengths
1. The resolve to change for the better and the personal involvement of the
president in this regard.
2. Benin is today a country enjoying peace and stability after years of
military regimes and political instability.
3. The entrenchment of the values and culture of democracy in society.
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