The OECD.AI Policy Navigator

Benin’s Stratégie Nationale d’Intelligence Artificielle et des Mégadonnées (SNIAM) 2023–2027 outlines a five‑year roadmap for developing and using artificial intelligence and big data in the country. It was developed in response to the need to better structure existing AI initiatives, clarify national priorities for the use of artificial intelligence, and identify the resources required to support a coherent AI ecosystem. The strategy builds on Benin’s existing institutional and legal framework for digital development, notably the Code du Numérique, and aims to address concrete development challenges across a range of sectors.

Implementation of the strategy is based on four strategic orientations, applied in a progressive and incremental way. These orientations focus on consolidating the emerging AI ecosystem, strengthening and supporting its development, and promoting the use and valorisation of national knowledge and expertise. They are reflected in four strategic objectives: deploying AI use cases with high impact, strengthening human capacities in AI and big data, supporting research, innovation, the private sector and cooperation initiatives, and updating the institutional and regulatory framework for AI and big data. To achieve these objectives, the strategy is organised around four programmes covering AI solution development, capacity building, support for research and innovation, and governance.

The SNIAM targets a wide set of sectors that are explicitly identified in the strategy, including education, health, agriculture, the living environment, tourism, public administration, transport and infrastructure, economy and finance, as well as security and justice. For each of these areas, the strategy identifies concrete AI use cases intended to respond to sector‑specific needs and improve the quality and efficiency of public and private services. Particular attention is given to the development of human capital, effective data management, and the deployment of AI solutions that are adapted to the national context.

Governance and oversight are key elements of the strategy. Implementation is coordinated by the Ministry of Digitalisation through a multi‑level governance framework that involves sectoral institutions and ecosystem stakeholders such as universities, startups and users. Ethical and regulatory issues are addressed through the planned adoption of legal texts covering responsibility, ethics and data protection, combined with the use of controlled environments for AI development. Progress is monitored through annual evaluations and periodic assessments, supported by performance indicators and targets defined over the five‑year period, in order to support strategic steering, accountability and the adjustment of implementation over time.