CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: THE APRM PROCESS AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN BENIN __________________________________________________________________________ 18.  popularise the principles, processes, objectives and actions of the APRM in terms of their adoption by the different stakeholders in the development process;  sensitise national opinion on the issues and challenges of the APRM;  popularise the MOU and the Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance;  ensure Benin’s influence on the international scene as a result of the implementation of the APRM;  monitor the implementation of national policies introduced in terms of the framework of the APRM;  promote better integration of national policies introduced in terms of the framework of the APRM;  produce reports periodically on the progress of the implementation of the APRM; and  define the methodologies envisaged for the self-assessment exercise. In order to fulfil its mission effectively, the INCI-APRM elected an executive committee. It was to be supported by an advisory committee consisting of the chairperson of the technical subcommittee in charge of defining the methodology for the self-assessment exercise. The whole process was to be completed in consultation with the Technical Research Institutes (TRIs) in the four APRM focus areas. Good practice 1.1: The extensive APRM national consultation process In order to foster ownership of the review mechanism by the citizens of Benin and to ensure that data is collected effectively through national investigations and consultations, the INCIAPRM established focal points in the country’s 22 ministries, the six prefectures of the 12 departments, the 77 communes, 13 focal points in Cotonou (given its demographic importance) and in employers’ organisations. These focal points, which are an extension of the INCI-APRM, invariably include a representative from public authorities, a representative from the private sector and a representative from civil society. 19. The self-assessment exercise cannot succeed without competent, credible and trustworthy technical institutions. Consequently, Benin recruited four institutions, each covering one of the four APRM focus areas. To that end, and on the recommendation of the support mission, a recruitment panel was established in order to ensure transparency in the selection procedure. 20. Initially, the timetable for the work of the APR Panel envisaged that the process would be launched in the fourth quarter of 2006. However, the 36