Conclusions and recommendations

There are several initiatives aiming to improve the lives of the poorest 20% of people in Benin. However, in order to meet the commitment to leave no one behind by 2030, a number of actions could help accelerate P20 progress in Benin.

All stakeholders involved in the technical workshop and high-level roundtable, including representatives from local and national government, civil society organisations and technical and financial partners, recognised the added value that the P20 approach provides. The approach ensures that the impact their policies and interventions have on the P20 is considered – even if data analysis remains a challenge in those contexts.

The Ministry of Planning and Development, with responsibility for SDG implementation and monitoring could translate the objective of leaving no one behind into practical action by creating a P20 thematic grouping or delivery unit. This unit should hold regular meetings once a quarter to evaluate trends among the poorest 20% of the population, key concerns, the P20 approach compared against the implementation of sectoral plans, national plans, and local plans. These meetings should involve the participation of technical and financial partners, civil society, focal points in key ministries and other engaged groups to discuss issues of concern related to leaving no one behind generally and the P20 approach. The P20 delivery unit should work closely with INSAE to address key data challenges and to support INSAE in providing the data required. Technical and financial partners would be key contributors to the quarterly meetings and could provide some financial support.

Data is a potentially powerful tool first to identify and monitor progress and second to better target those at risk of being left behind. There are many sources of data within the country to help target these populations, however, many of the most vulnerable people risk being excluded from administrative data and survey data. People living outside of households are likely to experience higher levels of need and challenges with civil registration and will not appear in the major household surveys.

INSAE has recently approved a national strategy for the development of statistics. Implementing this strategy, applying a P20 approach in its publications and increasing the availability of relevant microdata and administrative data for analysis will be crucial for ensuring that quality data is available to better target populations being left behind.

Furthermore, digital identity systems linked to CRVS systems will ensure that the poorest 20% of people are included in official data systems. Pairing RAVIP with civil registries and social protection programmes is a promising advance in this respect; it will require significant effort, but the digitisation of civil registration in Kandi shows this is possible even with limited resources.

By focusing efforts on including those left furthest behind, data can be used to better ensure that everyone is included in growth. DI hopes it can continue to support Benin and its partners in adapting the P20 approach to meet their needs and in delivering on the commitment to leave no one behind.