Benin now has a new methodological guide for the development of sectoral policies and strategies. This document, which introduces a new policy framework format in line with the harmonized regional framework, will help to avoid dichotomies between policies and budgets in the future. Its validation took place on Thursday 31 October in Cotonou, during a workshop between stakeholders. The actors involved in the development of sectoral policies and strategies, in particular the Directorate-General for Development Policies (Dgpd) and the Directorate-General for Budget (Dgb), now have a new methodological guide for the drafting of these policies and strategies. The draft guide validated last Thursday, during a workshop, will now make it possible to avoid cases of dichotomies between policies and budgets, in order to meet the requirements of the organic law on finance laws. Specifically, this new guide for stakeholder review incorporates several cross-cutting themes including climate change, gender and employment, results-based management and accountability. It also ensures the perfect link between the strategies formulated and the budgetary framework chosen. In other words, explains Magloire Augustin Aguessy, Director-General for Development Policy, the document introduces a new strategic framework format in line with the harmonized regional framework. Its drafting "was the subject of a long participatory and inclusive process under the guidance of an international consultant...", he explains. At the end of the day, he continues, the new guide will establish itself as the major instrument that will govern planning in Benin until its next version. After recalling the reasons that led the government to update the methodological guide, Rufino d'Almeida, points out that this updated document complements the old one, then enriches it while making a point of honor on an inclusive and participatory administrative approach. "This guide takes into account the main phases of policy development and provides toolkits to guide the consideration of cross-cutting dimensions at all stages of the process," said the Chief of Staff of the Minister of Planning and Development. It should be noted that this revised methodological guide is an important tool at the service of persons (natural and legal) responsible for the development of public policies and those responsible for operational activities within the various structures and institutions of the public administration. After its validation by experts, academics and senior executives, place will be made for its appropriation by the actors, in a broader way, for the improvement of strategic choices as well as their implementation.