Benin: 1,422 equality cards distributed

The Ministry of Family and Social Action launched the distribution of 1,422 equality cards for people with disabilities on Friday, September 18, 2026, in Cotonou. The operation began in the Littoral region, at the Ministerial City, with plans to extend to the other eleven departments of the country.

These cards, produced with the support of the National Agency for the Identification of Persons (ANIP), serve as proof for accessing preferential measures designed for individuals with disabilities. They specifically indicate the holder’s disability rate, a factor considered in determining eligibility for certain aids and social benefits.

This initiative is not new. The Ministry of Social Affairs launched the equality card in December 2024 as part of the implementation of the 2017 law on the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities. The associated measures include education, training, employment, and socio-professional integration.

To apply for the card, Ministerial Order No. 012 of 2023 requires a request addressed to the minister responsible for persons with disabilities, an identification form, a full photograph, a medical certificate issued by a licensed physician, proof of residence, a copy of a valid identification document, and a social investigation report.

The application must be submitted at a social promotion center or to the relevant territorial structure, which will forward it to the secretariat of the commission responsible for the inclusion of persons with disabilities. The text also provides for the use of an official platform indicated by the ministry.

In Cotonou, several beneficiaries received their cards during the launch ceremony. The ministry is set to continue distributing the remaining stock of 1,422 cards across the eleven departments outside of the Littoral.