On 21 August 2025, the WHO Country Office in Benin had the privilege of receiving Mr. Gilles Fagninou, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa, and Mr. Ousmane Niang, UNICEF Representative in Benin. This high-level visit highlighted the exemplary collaboration between WHO and UNICEF at both regional and national levels.

The partnership is built on joint programming and implementation of priority health interventions aimed at improving population health outcomes, collaborative advocacy to ensure that the health of children and families remains central to the national development agenda, and resource mobilization to support the Government of Benin’s efforts in expanding and strengthening high-impact health programs. A shared presence, with a joint office in Cotonou and operational collaboration in the field in Parakou, further enhances efficiency and impact.

During the visit, discussions focused on key shared priorities, including maternal and child health, immunization and community health, nutrition and sustainable health systems, preparedness and response to health emergencies, and addressing climate and environmental challenges in health.

Mr. Fagninou expressed his appreciation for the strong collaboration between WHO and UNICEF in Benin, noting that this partnership is particularly vital in today’s complex geopolitical and low-funding environment. He emphasized the need to deepen synergies and adopt a “Delivering as One” approach to achieve high-impact interventions that bring tangible benefits to communities.

This close collaboration serves as a critical driver for accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). 

WHO Benin, together with UNICEF and the Government of Benin, will be continuing to deliver tangible results that will be improving the lives of children, families, and communities across the country.