Planning in Dahomey

Abstract

In 1960, when Dahomey acceded to independence and its nationals were sent back home from all sides, at a moment when the country had still not even had time to establish the structures that are necessary to every young State, the problem arose of how best to employ the extremely meager resources available to cover the immense requirements of the nation. Confronted by this emergency, it became clearly apparent to the. Dahomean authorities that it was necessary for them to have at their disposal a written instrument, to which reference could be made, and which would organize utilization of the country's scarce resources methodically in order to obtain the maximum efficiency and the most rapid results in economic and social development. Thus, for us in Dahomey planning was to a large extent and still remains, primarily a practical exercise. I might almost say an elementary system of housekeeping accounts.