Benin

Screening process
A document describing the programme to be evaluated, accompanied by a draft Terms of Reference (TOR) is sent to the ABE which carries out a preliminary examination, approves the draft TOR after amendment. The ABE also prepares a recommendation (for signature by the Minister of sustainable development ) to inform the organization responsible about the environmental obligations and the conditions for carrying out SEA.

Timeline Screening
15 days

Identification of stakeholders
Even if the importance of public participation is explicitly underlined (article 7), the identification of stakeholders is not described either in the decree or in the 2006 guide.

Scoping process
The scoping is not defined in much detail. It is implicit that the scoping is done by preparing the ToR for the SEA.

Baseline data
The process of an SEA consists of using study reports. The synthesis of the information collected will make it possible to identify the environmental problems of the territory studied.

Alternatives
The guide (not yet formalized) includes requirements on alternatives. A zero option (do nothing) can be evaluated during this step.

Also, strategic axes, which take into account environmental potentials and constraints linked to development needs and vision, must be formulated.

Content of SEA report
An SEA report should consist of the following elements:

• a non-technical executive summary;
• methodology used;
• context and the framework for the preparation, updating or approval of the document concerned in relation to the national guidelines for socio-economic development and sustainable development;
• the strategic environmental diagnosis presenting the current and past environmental situation as well as its probable evolution in time and space in the event of status quo;
• an environmental analysis of the orientations and options provided for in the document, making it possible in particular to check their compatibility with the legislation in force and the principles of sustainable development adopted by Benin;
• the identification of the main conflicts and potential effects linked to the orientations and options selected in the document;
• the proposal for environmental measures to be included in the document submitted for assessment, including technical, regulatory, institutional and capacity-building measures;
• the proposal of a monitoring-evaluation and reporting mechanism for the implementation of the measures and recommendations.

Review process
In each step of the process, documents are submitted to ABE. The ABE staff validates the documents.

Participation in review
Public participation in the review of an SEA is not described in the decree (only an ad hoc technical committee is mentioned). However, the decree stipulates that “The process of Strategic Environmental Assessment is based on the principles of transparency, precaution and participation.” (article 7)

SEA and planning decision-making
The SEA report, once amended by an ad hoc technical committee of experts set up by the ABE, is sent after correction to the Minister, accompanied by a summary of the recommended environmental measures and the monitoring procedures.

The final document, verified by the ABE following this integration, is subject to an environmental feasibility visa issued by the Minister.

Monitoring and evaluation
In the SEA report, a proposal for a monitoring-evaluation and reporting mechanism for the implementation of the measures and recommendations is required.

The methodological guide (not formalized) requires that at each stage of implementation, the competent structures monitor and assess the level of respect for the principles contained in the strategic document.

The responsibility for monitoring SEAs, as well as coordinating the whole process, and its periodic review if necessary, rests with the EBA.