Country Program Materials
2010 Congressional
Budget Justification
The CBJ summarizes USAID activities
and funding in Benin.
USAID/Benin Links
 Budget Fact Sheet (pdf,41kb)
Success
Stories
Country Profile (140kb, pdf)
Recent
Publications & Reports
Global
Health: HIV/AIDS
USAID/Benin Mission
Website:
www.usaid.gov/bj
Mission Director:
Kevin Armstrong
Local Address:
USAID/Bénin
Ambassade Américaine
01 B.P. 2012
Cotonou
République du Bénin
Tel: 229-30-05-00
Fax: 229-30-12-60
From the US:
USAID/Benin
Department of State, Cotonou PL.
Washington, DC 20521-2120
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Beninese citizens participating in the
March 2006 elections. USAID
technical assistance promotes
decentralization and devolution of
authorities to local communities.
Community participation helps
ensure that the government
responds to the needs and interests
of its citizens.
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Benin
OVERVIEW
In a region with notable cases of failed or failing states, Benin established a government that largely respects basic rights and freedoms. The March 2006 presidential elections resulted in the fourth peaceful turnover of power since democracy was reestablished in the early 1990s. President Thomas Boni Yayi has pledged to fight corruption and ineffective management and to promote economic growth. However, low levels of education and health are the most dramatic constraints to Benin’s long-term development.
PROGRAMS
INVESTING IN PEOPLE: EDUCATION
Education is critical to sustained economic growth, improved health, and continued democratization. Benin has made significant steps toward improving primary education over the last ten years. Since 1998, net enrolment rates for boys increased from 65 to 81 percent, while girls’ enrolment rose from 32 percent to 58 percent. Despite this progress, major challenges remain, including a severe shortage of trained teachers, and a persistent gap in the number of girls and boys going to and staying in school. To address these issues, USAID focuses on training teachers, increasing girls' enrolment and completion of primary education, and promoting greater community involvement in education. USAID works in communities with low girls’ enrolment rates to remove obstacles to their education. Since 2004, more than 6,000 girls and 1,200 boys who would otherwise be unable to continue their education received scholarships and mentoring to help them stay in school.
INVESTING IN PEOPLE: HEALTH
A life expectancy of 53 years, high rates of maternal and child mortality, and high child malnutrition rates, reflect the reality that the health of most Beninese is precarious. USAID interventions over the past decade have focused on disadvantaged areas in central and northern Benin and have led to improved health service delivery and increased use of family health services. USAID is also implementing the President’s Malaria Initiative, which aims to reduce malaria-related deaths by half in among children and pregnant women. Health workers are being trained to design and disseminate prevention messages for groups at risk of becoming infected with HIV/AIDS, especially young adults. To prevent childhood illnesses, USAID promotes immunization, breastfeeding, the use of mosquito nets, and the use of oral rehydration salts to treat diarrhea. USAID also supports training of health workers and provides maternity wards with equipment that helps prevent post-partum hemorrhage and manage obstetric emergencies—both major causes of maternal deaths. They also learn to care for newborns, to correctly treat childhood illnesses, and to diagnose and treat sexually transmitted infections
INVESTING IN PEOPLE: SOCIAL SERVICES
Benin is one of four African countries that benefits from the Women’s Justice and Empowerment Initiative, a three-year initiative that seeks to reduce violence against women. USAID is working to raise awareness of gender-based violence and improve the capacity of Beninese public and nongovernmental organizations to meet the needs of victims. USAID also partners with UNICEF to reduce child trafficking and provide standardized quality care and reintegration for child victims.
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