Benin has taken its consultative diplomacy to the heart of the francophone institutional network. From 28 to 30 September 2026, Abdoulaye Bio Tchané, president of Benin’s Economic and Social Council (CES), is leading an official delegation to Bucharest, Romania, for the meetings of the Bureau and the General Assembly of the Union of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions of La Francophonie (UCESIF).
Hosted at the Palace of the Romanian Parliament, member delegations are examining contemporary challenges in social dialogue, participatory governance and economic resilience across the French-speaking world.
Benin’s CES at the core of strategic decisions
The Bucharest mission fits squarely within the vision of the 8th term of Benin’s CES, which prioritises international outreach and openness to best practices in consultative governance.
Over the three days of discussions, the Beninese delegation’s work is structured around several key areas:
- Validation of budgetary and administrative guidelines: review of activity reports, assessment of financial management and definition of UCESIF’s operational roadmap for coming years.
- Strengthening francophone partnership: consolidating synergies among member institutions to turn citizen consultations into levers for national public policies.
- Bilateral cooperation: working meetings on the margins of plenary sessions with presidents of economic and social councils from Africa and Europe to share experiences on economic inclusion and social dialogue.
A driver of influence for consultative democracy
By actively presenting Beninese proposals within UCESIF, Abdoulaye Bio Tchané reaffirms the strategic role that consultative assemblies play in the stability and sustainable development of nations.
Faced with global economic shifts and youth employment challenges, the Bucharest General Assembly provides Benin with a privileged platform to showcase its national initiatives while drawing on successful models from the francophone network. The conclusions and resolutions adopted at the end of the proceedings will serve as the foundation for the Union’s future joint actions.
