On December 19 and 20, more than 140 leaders from agropastoral communities, including about thirty young people, gathered at the Cotonou Congress Palace for a national dialogue entitled “Dialogue between agropastoral community leaders and the High Commission for Livestock Farmers’ Settlement on girls’ education and social cohesion.” Organized by the High Commission for Livestock Farmers’ Settlement with support from Swiss Cooperation and UNICEF, this event enabled collective reflection on concrete solutions to ensure equitable access to education for every girl and strengthen social cohesion within the most vulnerable communities.
This dialogue follows Benin’s commitments with the adoption in July 2024 of the National Intersectoral Program for Accelerating Girls’ Education and Well-being. The discussions highlighted the main obstacles to girls’ schooling, including early marriages, insecurity in the north of the country, and cultural norms.
Salimane Karimou, Minister of Pre-school and Primary Education, stated: “This workshop will help map out ways and means by which we could succeed in educating more children, whether girls or boys, from an early age, as they are the ones who will build the society of tomorrow and work for peace because they would have received education in this area.”
Mrs. Eléonore Yayi Ladékan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, emphasized: “This dialogue with the agropastoral community comes at a time when we need to talk to each other, understand each other, and hold hands. Putting girls’ education at the center of a workshop with agropastoral community leaders is a very good initiative. Today’s girl, who becomes tomorrow’s society’s woman, needs to be supported as she is the pillar of development.”
The High Commissioner for Livestock Farmers’ Settlement, Dr. Adamou Mama Sambo, also highlighted: “Leaders are the most strategic interlocutors to reach communities more effectively. This dialogue will engage leaders to make commitments to increase enrollment rates in our different regions. That’s the challenge.”
Elisabeth Pitteloud Alansar, Director of Swiss Cooperation in Benin, added: “This is an opportunity to bring together agropastoral community leaders to gain their support for better cohesion, as well as concrete decisions and actions in favor of better consideration of education and retention of girls in the education system.”
UNICEF Representative in Benin, Ousmane Niang, recalled the importance of this initiative: “This dialogue is an example of what we can accomplish together. By bringing together community leaders, men, women, and youth as agents of change, we have the opportunity to accelerate progress toward a Benin where no child is left behind.”
The discussions enabled the co-creation of solutions between community leaders, government authorities, local authorities, and youth to improve school infrastructure, integrate bridging classes for out-of-school children, promote scientific fields for girls, and strengthen collaboration between technical and financial partners. This dialogue, part of the national campaign “Benin educates and protects its girls,” represents a major step forward in building an inclusive and resilient future.
About UNICEF UNICEF promotes the rights and well-being of every child in everything we do. We work in 190 countries and territories worldwide with our partners to make this commitment a reality, with a particular effort to reach the most vulnerable and marginalized children, in the interest of all children, wherever they are.
For more information about UNICEF and its work: www.unicef.org/french
Follow UNICEF on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and SoundCloud