Benin is at a pivotal point in its development, having recently advanced in the World Bank classification from a lower-income to a lower-middle-income status between 2020 and 2022. The country’s ongoing modernization of the port, increased investments in infrastructure, and sustained economic growth rate of around five percent underscore its potential for continued progress. Nevertheless, Benin continues to face challenges including persistent regional poverty, ongoing efforts to strengthen democratic practices, and rising threats of violent extremism in the northern regions.

USAID initiated its assistance programs to Benin in 1991, marked by a joint commitment to expand the delivery of quality health services, enhance stability by addressing drivers of instability, and improve democratic governance and human rights to support a stable and responsive government.