Benin: Boosting the national land administration

Benin is a stable, French speaking country in Western Africa. Despite a relatively new national law on land administration, the number of registered parcels with a formal land title (Titre Foncier) is low. Procedures are complex, take too long and most people cannot afford a land title.

Digital land registration system

Since the start of the project in 2019, a fully digital land registration system for recording presumed ownership was developed by the project team and ANDF. ANDF is the agency in Benin responsible for land registration. They also developed the representation of parcels in the digital map: e-Foncier Bénin (e-FB).

Empowering landowners

In the meantime, almost 500.000 parcels are mapped and the presumed owners are recorded in 12 municipalities after a thorough adjudication process. These titles can easily be changed in permanent titles. A similar status as the Titre Foncier. This way the owners are able to get a mortgage loan from the bank.

Data maintenance procedures

Equally as important are procedures for data maintenance. A reliable system contains data that is complete and up to date. In April 2025, the Beninese government adopted legislation that enables parties in the chain to keep their data up to date.

Training and capacity building

In the 12 municipalities where presumed ownership has been recorded, training courses have been provided to train staff members how to maintain the data in e-FB. Meanwhile, all municipalities have installed a (smaller or larger) dedicated team of people responsible for the data maintenance.

Focus on the future

The Beninese government drew up a National Land Programme in 2024. The aim of this programme is to set up a nation-wide cadastre in all 77 communities of Benin. To continue our technical support to ANDF and the Beninese government in this major task, the Dutch Embassy is providing us with funds to extend the project until mid-2026.

More about this project

Main goals

The national cadastre is available, functional and sustainable in order to contribute effectively to the land security of a growing number of people
ANDF implements the national land policy, in accordance with the obligations defined in the Land Law (Code Foncier et Domanial) respecting the conditions of land security and in a financially sustainable manner
All parties in the mapping, legal and judicial chains are aware of their roles and responsibilities and assume them effectively and correctly in collaboration with other parties in the chain
Increased opportunities for civil society and other interest groups to advocate for improved legislation, policies and implementation of policies to protect access and land ownership rights for socially and/or economically disadvantaged groups

Anticipated results

Support the development of the legal and regulatory framework with a focus on formalising land rights based on the recorded presumed ownership, with the involvement of the municipalities.
Continue supporting ANDF in finalising the National Land Programme (PNF).
Facilitate ANDF and the Government of Benin in discussions on a financial sustainable land administration in Benin.
Continue strengthening the capacity of ANDF, its branches and other stakeholders (municipalities, IGN, notaries, surveyors).
Ensure a total transfer of the management of e-Foncier Bénin to the ANDF.
Support the development of new functionalities in e-FB.
Achieve total cadastral data coverage in two municipalities, namely Porto Novo and Parakou.
Continue our support to vulnerable groups and ensure that their rights are taken into account in the collection and maintenance of cadastral data.
Continue updating cadastral data in the twelve (12) municipalities before the new legal provisions come into force.
Initiate and guide initial discussions within the Beninese government about an national spatial data infrastructure and a so called ‘system of key registers’.
Support IGN and ANDF in developing a vision and roadmap for a national geo-portal.

Our partners

Beneficiary

L'Agence Nationale du Domaine et du Foncier (ANDF)

Financial partner

Embassy Kingdom of the Netherlands in Cotonou, Benin

Our consortium partner

MDF Consultancy
VNG International

Duration of the project

2018 - 2026

News

News item: Monique Sueters new chair of the executive board of Kadaster

July 13, 2026

As of 1 July, Monique Sueters (52) has been appointed as chair of the executive board of Kadaster.

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