Benin: Government Releases Approximately 8 Billion to Fund Sports
The Benin government has recently announced funding of 4.655 billion CFA francs for sports federations and professional clubs for the year 2024.
This announcement was made during an official ceremony at the Palais des Congrès in Cotonou on April 11, 2024. The funding is part of ongoing efforts to support the sports sector. Including other financial commitments made previously, the total financial support from the government for the year amounts to about 8 billion CFA francs.
Since 2016, under President Patrice Talon’s administration, financial support for sports has been progressively increasing, with allocations that have significantly risen ever since. These funds are dedicated to various aspects of sports, including professionalization, athlete training, and improving sports infrastructure.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Sports has established criteria for the allocation of these grants to strengthen the structure of federations and clubs. These criteria cover various aspects of sports management, such as techniques, administration, finance, and strategy, aiming to promote more efficient organization and more competitive sports performances.
With a view to more rigorous management of public funds, the Minister of Sports, Benoît Dato, announced the introduction of a monitoring, evaluation, and control mechanism for the distributed grants. The objective is to ensure optimal use of financial resources and to hold beneficiary structures accountable. In conclusion, the Minister called on federations and clubs to adopt efficient and responsible management of resources to foster the development of Beninese sports.