The Benin Council of Ministers appointed Damien Mama on 4 November 2026 as minister and permanent secretary of the National Steering Committee for Territorial Development Poles. Based at the Presidency of the Republic, the post forms part of the setting up of the bodies responsible for leading the reform.
According to Financial Afrik, which profiles his career in an article dated 5 November, Damien Mama has more than 25 years' experience in development, humanitarian action and peace operations. He has in particular held responsibilities at UNDP in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, after serving as UN resident coordinator in Togo and Burundi.
Priority projects due in the second half of 2027
The framework adopted on 7 October divides the country into six poles and establishes a national committee chaired by the Head of State. Each pole is to have a delegation and a technical team. The government intends to tailor interventions to local strengths, with agriculture, tourism, industry and innovation as the core development priorities.
Material preparations have already included a tour by the Minister of Decentralisation from 13 to 24 October. The government report published on 28 October describes visits to administrative complexes and talks with prefects, aimed at identifying premises and the reception needs of the future delegates general and their teams.
The roadmap provides for a first phase of setting up the bodies and carrying out diagnostics until December 2026. Between January and March 2027, work is to identify priority sectors and needs in infrastructure, land and skills, then build a portfolio of public and private projects.
For businesses, this preparation is also to define incentives and organise support for investors. Operational planning is scheduled from April to June 2027, with the sharing of contributions between the state, municipalities and the private sector. The launch of priority projects then appears on the timetable for July to December 2027.