Benin is engaging in the digitization of its administrative archives.

The text, referenced N°0142/MBFP/MTDI/SP-C, was issued by Rodrigue S. Chaou, the delegated minister in charge of Budget and Public Service, in collaboration with the minister in charge of Digital Transformation and Innovation. It is part of the digital transformation of public administration.

The circular pertains to the management of the documentary fund of Beninese administrations. However, the available information does not yet detail the technical implementation methods, the application schedule, or the services involved in the initial stages of the reform.

Reduce Costs and Improve Document Management

Digitization is expected to limit the printing and physical storage of administrative documents. It could also reduce expenses related to the purchase of paper, the layout of archiving spaces, and the conservation of files.

The reform is also intended to facilitate the search and transmission of documents within the administration. In principle, digitizing archives can reduce access times to information and limit the risks of loss or deterioration of files, provided that suitable classification, security, and backup systems are implemented.

The government presents this direction as a rapprochement between administrative modernization and rigorous management of public finances. The reduction of paper consumption is also associated with an environmental objective, particularly through decreased needs for printing and physical storage.

However, the circular does not, by itself, mean the immediate disappearance of paper documents across all public services. The actual impact of this transition will depend on archiving rules, the legal value of digital documents, the interoperability of systems, and the training of the personnel involved.