ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on an evaluation of the agricultural sector development policy in Benin that was carried out in 2009 at an early stage of the national evaluation system, and how the evidence was used to inform later policies. Participants in the workshops and interviews included the minister, senior officials and monitoring and evaluation managers of the Ministry of Agriculture, ministries, development partners (DPs), representatives of civil society organisations and members of producer unions, agricultural professional organisations. The evaluation was conducted by an independent service provider and was of good quality. Evaluation professionals, other ministry agents, the President’s Office and DPs contributed extensively to discussions based on the solid evidence provided by the evaluators. In several cases DPs have supported professional or civil society organisations, which has strengthened the influence in decision making. In terms of non-government actors, the Platform of Civil Society Organisations in Benin is a national organisation which is influential in decision making in the agricultural sector.
