Benin and Germany have locked in a decisive new phase of their partnership. At strategic bilateral consultations held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Cooperation in Cotonou, the two delegations concluded talks that set a clear course toward intergovernmental negotiations scheduled for Berlin in 2027. The meeting was co-chaired by Hugues O. Lokossou, minister responsible for mobilizing external resources and debt management, and Dr. Silvia Morgenroth, head of the West Africa Division at Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
A €15 million boost for solar energy, small businesses and gender inclusion
In a joint statement issued on Friday, October 9, 2026, the German side announced the release of an additional €15 million (around 9.8 billion CFA francs) for the current year. This funding will target two key areas:
- Energy transition: Integrating a solar component into the Nangbéto hydroelectric plant, a mixed hydro-solar regional project.
- Local entrepreneurship: Expanding advisory and technical support programs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a strong emphasis on empowering women entrepreneurs.
Three strategic pillars aligned with the government’s reform agenda
Welcoming Cotonou’s disciplined economic and financial reforms, the German delegation reaffirmed its backing for the Government Action Program (PAG) through three priority areas:
- Financial governance and decentralization: Strengthening local and territorial budget management capacities.
- Private sector development and vocational training: Matching training to employment for young people.
- Water management and biodiversity preservation: Improving environmental resilience for communities.
Both governments also restated their shared commitment to consolidating the rule of law, democracy and multilateral values, before formalizing their major bilateral meeting in Berlin in 2027 to set future multi-year partnership commitments.