VZCZCXRO7518
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHCO #0073 0620430
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 030430Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0796
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1408
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS COTONOU 000073 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/PD (ANYASO, TITUS, LISENBY), AF/W (ACOOK) 
DEPARTMENT FOR USAID (ALETA WILLIAMS) 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIRC OIIP KDEM KPAO KISL PINR ML
SUBJECT: BENIN: GPRA REPORT : ALETA WILLIAMS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 117838 
 
SUMMARY: To highlight post's Black History Month focus on education, 
Mission Benin hosted a speaker program with Aleta Williams, Senior 
Education Advisor, USAID/AFR. Williams was the featured speaker at a 
February 25 public conference on the topic "Education and 
Employment: Making the Connections," which was held at the American 
Cultural Center.  During her visit to Benin, Williams also went on 
education site visits and held interviews with media outlets in 
Benin. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. DATE OF ACTIVITY: February 25; Second quarter, FY 09. 
 
¶3. PROGRAM JUSTIFICATION/OBJECTIVES: This public lecture by USAID 
Senior Education Advisor, Aleta Williams, was one of the PAS Cotonou 
initiatives to celebrate Black History Month (BHM). This seminar 
highlighted the role and importance of education as a social force 
that could change individuals and communities and foster economic 
empowerment. 
 
¶4. MPP UMBRELLA THEMES AND AUDIENCE REACHED: Promoting Education, 
Basic Health and Human Rights; Mutual Understanding.  Around 100 
participants, including students from the University of Abomey 
-Calavi and other private colleges in Cotonou, lecturers, 
journalists, and other interested guests attended the conference 
that was covered by all major media outlets including TV, radio and 
print media. Estimated audience reached: 3.5 million. 
 
¶5. ACTIVITIES/IMPACT/RESULT: In her opening remarks, the Deputy 
Chief of Mission introduced the speaker and explained USAID's role 
in the field of education and cited data to show the investment of 
the American people in the field of education in Benin.  She 
stressed the role of education as a key element in the economic 
growth of all nations. 
 
Williams' remarks focused on five key elements regarding Education 
and Employment: the transformative power of education for personal 
development; the role of family and community support; the necessity 
of tapping into the country's full potential for economic growth; 
the links between education and employment; and the critical need to 
focus on skills development and the pursuit of excellence. Given the 
impending explosion of the youth population in Sub-Saharan Africa in 
the next decade, Williams noted that something needs to be done to 
develop skills to address job market needs. Williams recommended 
that the private sector, industry and government should work 
together to ensure that skills are being developed to satisfy market 
needs and that the private sector offer the opportunity of 
internships and other hands-on training programs to enhance skills 
development. 
 
After Williams' speech, two local speakers gave an overview of the 
higher technical education system and the secondary technical 
education and employment options in Benin. Both of these speakers 
noted that resources and skills are available, but opined that the 
poor allocation of resources and funds prevented the country from 
achieving its development goals. 
 
A rich question and answer session followed that allowed 
participants to contribute to the discussion. One University faculty 
member said that success is a result of preparation and 
opportunities and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to 
participate in this conference. Another lecturer was interested in 
how universities in the United States bridge the gap between theory 
and practice so that graduate students leave university with some 
practical experience. Students from the audience expressed their 
interest in this aspect of the discussion and their concern that 
neither secondary nor higher education in Benin afforded enough of 
the practical skills needed for employment, nor sufficient linkages 
and opportunities for internships within the public and private 
sectors. 
 
¶6. NON-USG SOURCES OF IN-COUNTRY FUNDING/IN KIND SUPPORT: 
The participation of local speakers like Marcellin Hyle, Director of 
the Agricultural Technical Secondary School of Adja-Ouere and 
Virgile Ahi, President of the Regional Institute of Industrial 
Engineering and Biotechnology (IRGIB-Africa) and other guests like 
faculty members of the University of Abomey-Calavi brought vivid 
experience to the conference. 
 
¶7. QUALITY OF USG SUPPORT: Excellent. Kudos to Aleta Williams, 
Senior Education Adviser, USAID/AFR, for accepting the invitation to 
come to Benin for this program. Her experience and knowledge of 
Africa and education programs were highly appreciated. 
 
BROWN