“The support of the ANCB within the framework of the capacity building program for local authorities to take gender into account in local planning has been a great support for us. This support plays a role of awakening and I thank the ANCB and its president the Mayor of Cotonou Luc Sètondji ATROKPO as well as his partner VVSG “. So said Robert OSSINE, in charge of decentralized cooperation at the Town Hall of Toucountouna during the evaluation tour organized at the beginning of the month by the ANCB in the municipalities benefiting from its support program for gender mainstreaming. in the Beninese municipalities.
A feeling of recognition widely shared by the municipal actors involved in the implementation of this five-year program which has enabled the National Association of Municipalities of Benin and its partner the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG) to support 12 municipalities in Benin for more effective consideration of gender in all planning at the local level. “It is a good accompaniment” proclaims Vanessa DOVONOU, gender focal point of the commune of Agbangnizoun in the department of Zou before expressing the wish that apart from the actions of capacity building and technical support, the ANCB also provides financial support to municipalities to facilitate the implementation of planned activities.
It should be remembered that since 2017, the umbrella organization of the Beninese municipalities has been committed to promoting Gender in all of its member municipalities. Thanks to financial support from the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities in Belgium, 12 pilot municipalities were selected after a call for applications. The ANCB’s support was essentially in terms of capacity building for both municipal officials and elected officials and the provision to beneficiary municipalities of a number of tools to plan and monitor gender sensitive activities. At the end of this adventure which lasted five years, the ANCB organized a summary evaluation tour which made it possible to gather the appreciation of the municipal actors.

Source: National Association of Municipalities of Benin