The government of Benin is preparing to implement a new regional development strategy, dividing the country into six poles, each with a general delegate. This move aims to promote economic growth and redistribution. According to Albert Honlonkou, an economist, this decision requires a thorough analysis of public economics before implementation. The new strategy is expected to address the country's development challenges, including a significant gap in poverty rates between regions.
The concept of regionalization is not new in economics. In 1972, Wallace Oates argued that public goods should be provided at the smallest level that internalizes both benefits and costs. This idea is closely related to the concept of subsidiarity. In Benin's case, the current administrative divisions, including communes and departments, are not optimal for economic development. The commune is too small for large-scale projects, while the nation is too vast to address local needs effectively.
Benin has made significant progress in the past decade, with economic growth increasing from 1.8% in 2015 to nearly 8% in 2025. The country's infrastructure has also improved, with over 3,000 kilometers of paved roads and 2,350 kilometers of fiber optic cables. However, despite this progress, poverty remains a significant challenge, affecting about a third of the population. The new regional development strategy aims to address these disparities by focusing on territorial development.
The initial proposal for the six poles was based on pairs of departments, but the final document presented on September 23, 2026, proposes a different map. The new map consists of six poles: Nord-Ouest, Nord-Est, Centre, Sud-Est, Sud-Ouest, and Grand-Nokoué. Three of the six poles are similar to the initial proposal, but with different names. The other three poles have been recomposed, with the Grand-Nokoué pole consisting of five communes, including Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi, Porto-Novo, Ouidah, and Sèmè-Kpodji.
The decision to separate the metropolitan area of Cotonou and surrounding communes is based on economic logic. These areas form a single economic unit, with a shared labor market, land market, and transportation network. Recognizing this metropolitan area is in line with urban economic recommendations. By creating a separate pole for Grand-Nokoué, the government can address the specific challenges of this region and free up the other five poles to focus on their own development.
One of the key advantages of the new map is that it forms an exact partition of the country's territory, with 77 communes allocated to the six poles. This ensures that no commune is cut off or belongs to multiple poles. This property is essential for effective budgeting and planning. The government must protect this property to ensure the success of the regional development strategy.
The new regional development strategy has the potential to promote economic growth and reduce inequality in Benin. By focusing on territorial development and creating six poles, the government can address the specific needs of each region and promote more balanced growth. However, the success of this strategy depends on effective implementation and coordination between the different poles and levels of government.
Key points
- The new regional development strategy aims to address the significant gap in poverty rates between regions in Benin.
- The government has decided to create six poles, each with a general delegate, to promote economic growth and redistribution.
- The new map forms an exact partition of the country's territory, with 77 communes allocated to the six poles.
