Evaluation of the Benin Policy Reform and Institutional Strengthening Project: Baseline and Implementation Status Report

This report provides baseline statistics and information about the implementation of Benin’s Power Compact Policy Reform and Institutional Strengthening Project, one of four projects implemented under the MCC-Benin Power Compact. The report, delivered about 3 years into the 6 year compact (extended from 5 years due to pandemic-related delays), serves as the baseline for the independent evaluation of the Reform Project, which Mathematica will carry out through 2024. This report summarizes the implementation of this country-wide energy sector project as of October 2020, highlights key outputs and some early outcomes, including outcomes related to the introduction of independent power producers and a management services contract for the main electric utility, provides an analysis of the political economy and key institutions involved in the Power Compact, and assesses risks to the successful implementation and sustainability of the Reform Project’s goals.