11.28.2009
On Wednesday, November 25, the United States of America and Benin renewed their partnership by signing an Assistance Agreement. for fiscal year 2009.
The Assistance Agreements, worth $32.8 million, defines common objectives in primary education, family health, and the fight against violence against women. U.S. funding will support development programs and reinforce the progress Benin has achieved over the last decade in political, economic and social reforms. The cumulative total of U.S. contributions since 2006 under the Agreement amounts to $89.9 million.

10.20.2009
USAID Launches New Teacher Motivation Training Project.
Teacher Motivation and Training (TMT) is USAID/Benin’s newest education activity. USAID awarded this four year project worth $6.3 million to the Education Development Center (EDC) on July 15, 2009. TMT launching ceremony took place in October 20, 2009 at the Ministry of Primary Education in Porto-Novo. The TMT project has two main objectives: to improve pre-service teacher training through providing technical and material support to the five newly opened teacher training colleges and to improve teacher classroom performance through a pilot teacher supervision and merit based. Complete text >>>

09.25.2009
USAID/Benin provides family planning products to the Beninese Association for the Advancement of the Family.
Cotonou, September 25, 2009: USAID/Benin donated to the Beninese Association for the Advancement of the Family (ABPF) a quantity of health products sufficient to enable around 33, 000 couples to take charge of their family planning needs for a year. ABPF is a private organization that provides community-based obstetric and antenatal care service in 16 villages and family planning and reproductive health services. Complete text >>>

09.24.2009
USAID Awards WJEI/EMPOWER "Challenge Funds" and Donates Equipment to Benin to Fight Gender-based Violence.
On September 24, USAID’s WJEI/EMPOWER "Challenge Funds" activity distributed $100,000 in checks to 22 Centers for Social Protection (CSP) and civil society organizations in Benin. Theses funds will help the organizations fight violence against women. A previous award, donated in April 2009, is already benefiting 15 organizations that assist women victims of violence. Complete text >>>

08.13.2009
PMI Second Indoor Residual Spraying Campaign : Results of a Tour-de-Force in Logistics.
At an August 13 workshop, the Ministry of Health presented the results of the second pilot Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) campaign in the Ouémé region. Workshop participants praised the efficiency with which all actors involved executed the campaign. They agreed unanimously that the National Malaria Control Program should carry out two additional IRS campaigns in 2010, and pursue this pilot activity. Complete text >>>

Improved obstetric care is helping families in Benin.
For many women like Ms. Ganse, giving birth in Benin continues to be a life-threatening event. National figures indicate that as many as 400 women die per 100,000 live births. Most maternal deaths -- more than a third -- are due to excessive uterine bleeding (PPH) that sometimes occurs after childbirth. To reverse this alarming trend, USAID/Benin’s Integrated Family Health Project (PISAF), which is implemented by University Research Corporation, is introducing a proven approach called Active Management of the Third Stage of Labor (AMTSL) to reduce childbirth hemorrhages. Although the Ministry of Health adopted AMTSL, many facilities are struggling to put it into practice. Complete text >>>

Girls Education Wins with Lunch and Mentors. Meals and mentors keep poorest children in schools.
“Before, I had to take food from home,” says Mamanfati Issifou, an Ambassador's Girls Scholarship Program (AGSP) scholar; now, thanks to the scholarship lunch, I have lunch at school”. AGSP started in Benin in 2004, as part of the African Education Initiative, to help the poorest children go to primary school. To date, more than 5,000 girls have received scholarships. Since 2007, 1,200 of the neediest boys also receive scholarships, including a new uniform, school supplies and lunch every day. Like for Rachida Moussa, on the right in the picture, the lunch is what entices poor children to stay in school. Most live far away and travel to school by foot. Complete text >>>

Women Pioneers in Anti-Malaria Efforts. Fighting Malaria as Insecticide Spray Operators.
Diane Sagbohan is one of six women spray operators among the 265 trained spray operators who volunteered to participate in the first insecticide residential spray IRS campaign in Benin. Diane is native of Seme Kpodji, one of the four communes of Benin selected for spray operations. Seme Kpodji is well known as a commune that suffers from high rates of malaria transmission and deadly illnesses. Complete text >>>