UNESCO and Benin sign an exemplary Framework Agreement for Cooperation paving the way to implement the 2030 Agenda
©UNESCO/Christelle ALIX
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Republic of Benin, Mr Aurélien A. Agbenonci accompanied by the Minister of Sports Mr Oswald Homeky visited UNESCO on Monday, 3 April for the signing ceremony of the Framework Agreement for Cooperation between UNESCO and Benin between UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Republic of Benin, Mr Aurélien A. Agbenonci. The signing took place in the presence of HE Mr. Auguste Alavo, Ambassador of Benin to France and Mr. Irénée Bienvenu Zevounou, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate to UNESCO; as well as Benoit Sossou, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office and Representative to Benin, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea Conakry, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
With this Framework Agreement, Government of Benin will provide approximately USD 10 million for activities to be implemented within Benin representing areas of shared priority of UNESCO and Benin, flowing from the Government’s Action Plan for next 5 years. Based on the estimations made by UNESCO and the Government, the needs for the identified areas are approximately USD 50 million – therefore, UNESCO and the Government of Benin will continue efforts for the mobilization of additional resources from other partners and donors.
“I see this as a landmark agreement, which testifies to the deep commitment of Benin and which calls for all UNESCO’s support,” said Irina Bokova.
“This agreement brings together five distinct ministries around some 15 operational projects, to create a wide front of action across all that UNESCP may provide in terms of expertise and support,” said Minister Agbenonci.
Benin's choice to embark on this new approach to co-operation with UNESCO reinforces the vision of the African Union, for Africa to mobilize its internal resources more extensively to implement its development agenda. It was noted that Benin was a pioneer of this exemplary type of cooperation in the field of resource mobilization in Africa.
During the signing ceremony, the Director-General of UNESCO stressed the historic importance of the occasion and said that this agreement was a powerful example of country-level leadership and commitment to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Benin presented to the Director General with the publication on the Government’s Action Plan (2016-2021). In so doing, he emphasized Benin’s commitment to innovation and said that Benin was happy to embrace all the values and goals that UNESCO represented.
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