Parakou, Benin, 15 December 2022 – The African Development Bank hosted an open day for Beninese civil society organizations, held on December 13, 2022, in Parakou, Benin. This activity is in line with one of the recommendations from IDEV's evaluation of the Bank's civil society engagement (CSE).
Aiming to strengthen collaboration in monitoring the implementation of the Bank's intervention strategy in Benin, this first event of its kind was organized by the Bank's office in Benin, with the support of the Bank’s Civil Society and Community Engagement Division. 80 organizations participated in the event.
The Bank’s Independent Development Evaluation (IDEV) also participated. Eric Kéré, Senior Evaluation Officer at IDEV, presented the Evaluation of the Bank's country strategies and programs in Benin over the period 2012 to 2021. During the decade, the Bank approved 31 projects, for an amount close to US$1 billion, mainly in infrastructure: transport (39% of financing), energy (19%), and water and sanitation (13%); but also in agriculture (19%) and governance (10 %).
According to Eric Kéré, “the evaluation showed the Bank’s interest in partnering with beneficiaries, including civil society organizations, to carry out projects and ensure their sustainability”. He cited, for example, the role of civil society organizations not only in identifying project implementation sites, but in securing land for Bank projects, and in organizing beneficiary groups to ensure infrastructure maintenance.
One of the main recommendations of the evaluation, relayed by Eric Kéré, was to improve the sustainability of the results of the interventions. Indeed, the evaluation highlighted the need to establish management and maintenance systems for infrastructure, equipment and services developed as part of future projects.
The Bank's country program officer, Jamila Hedli, stressed the benefits of working in partnership with civil society. “The Bank collaborates with several civil society organizations in the implementation of projects that the Bank finances in Benin. The Bank urges civil society to participate in the formulation of projects and the monitoring of activities on the ground, in the transport sector for example. Beneficiaries are encouraged to take ownership of the projects and ensure that achievements are sustainable”.
"Collaboration with civil society is essential to ensure that the operations that the Bank finances in the country are optimal in terms of improving the living conditions of the populations", underlined Robert Masumbuko, country manager of the Bank in Benin.
IDEV’s presence enabled participants to gain a clear idea of the evolution of AfDB projects in Benin. Beninese civil society organizations were also able to identify areas of activity and actions to be taken to strengthen development in their country.