The websites listed below provide useful facts on Benin as well as contacts and tools for companies operating in Benin:

• International Finance Corporation: West Africa SME Toolkit (in French)
  Guide to sustainable business management practices for SMEs.
• Business Fighting Corruption
  An online resource centre for business on collective action to avoid corruption which contains a guide and resources for partnerships with companies and other stakeholders to fight against corruption.
• CIA World Factbook: Benin Country Profile
• World Bank: Benin Data Profile

Sources for further reading:

• Freedom House: Freedom in the World - Benin 2011.
• The Bertelsmann Foundation: Transformation Index - Benin 2010.
• Afrobarometer: Summary of Results Benin - 2008.
• The World Bank & African Development Bank: La corruption et la gouvernance au Benin: Rapport des résultats de l'enquête diagnostique 2007 (in French).
• Global Integrity: Benin Country Report 2006.

UNCAC Status: Signed 10 December 2003. Ratified 14 October 2004.

Status on UNCAC Implementation
This field describes the country's status on the United Nations Convention against Corruption. Please note any declarations and reservations made upon ratification. The list of signatories can be found on the UNODC website. Read more about the UNCAC.

Other Relevant Conventions or Treaties:

• AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption: Signed 11 February 2003. Not Ratified.
  Read Transparency International's summary and assessment of the convention.
• United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime: Signed 13 December 2000. Ratified 30 August 2004.
  Read Transparency International's summary and assessment of the convention.

Transparency CPI: 2011: 100/182 (Score: 3)

Transparency CPI
This field consists of the score for the country in question on the Corruption Perceptions Index from Transparency International as well as its ranking.

World Bank CORR Index (-2.5 - +2.5): 2010: -0.75

World Bank Corruption Index
This field consists of the score for the country in question on the 'Control of Corruption' indicator in the World Bank Governance Research Indicator Country Snapshot (GRICS): 1996-2010.

OECD Country Risk Classification (0-7): 2011: 6

Country Risk Classification
The classification of countries by risk category has the aim of providing OECD countries with a basis for calculating the premium interest rate to be charged to cover the risk of non-repayment of export credits. Countries are placed in risk categories 0 - 7, with 0 being the lowest risk category and thus the least expensive. Conversely, premium group 7 is the highest risk category. Each classification is comprised of 2 components: 1) an assessment of the country's economic/financial situation, and 2) its overall political stability. Access the complete list of OECD Country Risk Classification figures.

Data Verification:

Publication Date: November 2011

Data verified by: Global Advice Network