Luc Gnacadja has officially taken over as president of Benin's National Association of Communes (Ancb). In his inaugural address in Cotonou, he outlined the priorities for his tenure. Gnacadja emphasized the importance of decentralization in Benin, stating that it has entered a new phase, dubbed "decentralization 3.0." This phase is characterized by a focus on territorial development and the need for communes to work together to address common challenges.
Gnacadja's first priority is to strengthen the voice of communes. He aims to make Ancb a platform for dialogue between communes and the government, where concerns can be raised and solutions proposed. He stressed the need for communes to contribute more to the development of public policies that affect them directly. This, he believes, will enable them to better address the needs of their populations.
The second priority is to enhance the capacity of communes to take action. Gnacadja plans to promote training programs tailored to the needs of communes, encourage the sharing of best practices, and recognize local initiatives that have proven successful. By doing so, he hopes to make Ancb a driving force for local development.
Gnacadja's third priority is to mobilize resources and partnerships. He called on communes to improve their revenue collection and explore new financing opportunities. He also appealed to technical and financial partners to support the development of communes. Ancb, he said, should play a more active role in accessing climate-related funding and local development financing.
Gnacadja's speech was marked by an appeal for collective engagement. He urged communes to actively contribute to the success of territorial development poles. To achieve this, he proposed organizing consultations by pole to identify strengths, projects, and obstacles on the ground. This will enable communes to participate fully in the construction of the new territorial architecture.
The government has welcomed Gnacadja's priorities. Minister of Decentralization and Local Governance, Janvier Yahouédéhou, recalled the expectations placed in communes as Benin implements its territorial reform. He emphasized that the success of decentralization will be measured by its impact on citizens' lives, citing the quality of services in communes, road conditions, and local governance transparency.
Yahouédéhou acknowledged the progress made in decentralization, including the reorganization of communal administration and the definition of responsibilities for elected officials and administrations. The government's focus is now on implementing the territorial development pole reform to strengthen regional economic dynamics and create complementarities between communes.
Key points
- Luc Gnacadja outlines three priorities for Benin's National Association of Communes.
- The priorities include strengthening commune voices, enhancing commune capacity for action, and mobilizing resources and partnerships.
- The government welcomes Gnacadja's priorities, emphasizing the need for decentralization to have a tangible impact on citizens' lives.
