The Benin government has launched two major projects, Terra Bénin and Ppmec II, to modernize its land administration and provide better protection for property owners. The projects, supported by the World Bank and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, aim to expand the national cadastral system and reduce land disputes. The initiative was launched on November 6 in Cotonou, with the goal of providing greater stability and security for landowners.
The land issue is a major concern for households, investors, and local authorities in Benin. The country's land administration has long been plagued by uncertainties over plot demarcation, property disputes, and family conflicts. To address these challenges, the government has decided to give a new impetus to land reform. The Minister Delegate for Finance and Microfinance, Nicolas Yenoussi, officially launched the two projects, which are designed to improve knowledge of the territory, identify land rights holders, and bring cadastral services closer to the population.
Terra Bénin, which will run for ten years, will be deployed in two five-year phases. The first phase will cover 14 communes, including Natitingou, Adjohoun, Bèmbèrèkè, Dassa-Zoumè, Savalou, Kétou, Abomey, Lokossa, and Ouidah. The program aims to register at least 1.5 million plots and issue one million cadastral registration certificates. It also plans to strengthen the capacities of the National Land and Domain Agency (Andf), the National Geographic Institute, and communal structures, while improving the e-Foncier Bénin digital platform.
The program's goal is to ultimately cover 44 communes, with four million registration certificates issued. According to Fabrice Gilles Kossou, head of the Cadastre, Operations, and Land Information Department, the program's objectives are ambitious. The government hopes that the program will provide greater security for landowners and reduce conflicts.
The World Bank's resident representative in Benin, Karine Bachongy, emphasized that land security should provide greater serenity for families and open up investment opportunities for entrepreneurs, women, and young people. She also stressed that it is a means of preventing conflicts and consolidating social cohesion. For her part, the Dutch ambassador, Joris Jurriëns, recalled the development of the digital cadastral platform, the complete coverage of Cotonou, Parakou, and Porto-Novo, as well as the census of around 644,000 plots.
The Ppmec II project aims to build on the results obtained since 2018-2019 with the support of the Netherlands. The new phase provides for the complete coverage of six communes and technical support in twelve others. At the launch, Nicolas Yenoussi insisted on the need for close coordination between institutions, communes, and partners. He also called for citizens to be kept informed and for their concerns to be heard and addressed.
The success of this reform will be measured by its ability to reassure families, protect owners, and facilitate access to a legally secure land for all. The two new programs aim to provide greater security for landowners and reduce conflicts related to land. The government hopes that these initiatives will help to promote social stability and economic development in Benin.
Key points
- The Benin government has launched two major projects to modernize its land administration and protect property rights.
- The projects aim to expand the national cadastral system and reduce land disputes.
- The government hopes that the programs will provide greater security for landowners and reduce conflicts.
