Benin is set to accelerate its reforms and economic sustainability measures after the African Development Fund approved an additional $28 million to expand the Economic Governance and Private Sector Development Support Programme (PAGE-DSP). The new financing builds on successful results from phases I and II, implemented in 2023 and 2024.
Strengthening Policy Implementation Support and Private Sector Growth
The new allocation aims to deepen reforms that improve the business climate, reinforce Special Economic Zones, advance the agro-industrial sector, and support climate resilience. These steps align with Benin’s broader business growth strategies to increase private-sector participation in national development.
According to the African Development Fund Board, the fresh funding will drive reforms designed to deliver measurable results by 2025. Targets include raising private investment to 35.5% of GDP (up from 29.9% in 2022), boosting investment within the Glo-Djigbé Special Economic Zone to 23 billion CFA francs (approximately $40.5 million), and increasing agri-food value added to 7.7% of GDP (compared with 6.1% in 2022).
“This additional funding concludes the exemplary implementation of the first two phases of the programme by the Government of the Republic of Benin,” said Robert Masumbuko, the African Development Bank Group’s Country Manager in Benin.
New Reforms to Enhance Competition, Digital Trade, and Governance
As part of the programme, several reforms will support stronger governance and policy implementation support.
The Council of Ministers will adopt a decree establishing the National Competition Authority, defining its mandate, structure, and funding mechanisms. Once operational, the Authority will ensure fair competition and support national competition policy.
A similar decree will activate the Directorate for the Promotion of E-commerce, responsible for deploying the National E-commerce Strategy 2025–2029, further supporting modern business growth strategies in the digital sector.
“This programme consolidates the results of the first two phases, which totalled approximately $100 million,” stated Ammar Kessab, Senior Programme Manager at the African Development Bank.
Gender-Responsive Reforms in Agriculture
Another key measure under the programme focuses on updating the gender assessment of the agricultural sector. The review will now integrate the “gender-responsive budgeting” framework, a requirement across all sectoral ministries. This update will help the government more effectively target interventions that benefit women, supporting long-term economic sustainability measures across rural communities.
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This story was first reported by African Development Fund (via APO Group). Read the full article here.
