Francais

“All children have the right to life…survival [and] full and healthy development”
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Who we are

ESAM was founded on 20 November 1987 in Akotomey, Benin, West Africa, with the objective of improving the living conditions of some of the country's most vulnerable people through the encouragement of sustainable development. The organization was officially recognized on 17 May 1990, under the charity number 022/MISPAT/DAI/ASSOC.

Our organisational structure

As a dynamic and decentralised organisation, ESAM comprises:

  • A General Assembly
  • A Board of Directors, including a permanent committee of the Director, Rapporteur and Consultant. The remaining four Board members are each elected for a period of two years.
  • A Board of Ombudsmen. The Board comprises three members who are nominated by the General Assembly.
  • Permanent staff, who look after the day-to-day operations of the organisation. These include the administration staff based in Cotonou and those on the ground, running the projects.

Our offices

Head Office: Cotonou

08 BP 0049 Tri Postal Cotonou, Benin, West Africa

Registered Office: Bopa

1, Rue de la Victoire, Akotomey

Branch offices:

Bohicon (Zou Department)
Quartier KPOCON, Lot No. 153
Maison de l'Enfance

Dogbo (Couffo Department)
Place du Marché, Route d'Azové
Immeuble Emile Zola

Lalo (Couffo Department)
Quartier Agaddon, Zone de la Gendarmerie
Maison Innocent Agueossy

Lokossa (Mono Department)
Quartier Agnivédji, Zone de la Gendarmerie
Maison Martine Zinsou

Our partners

  • Anti Slavery International (UK)
  • CARE International (Benin)
  • CCEM (France)
  • ECPAT International (Thailand)
  • ILO-IPEC
  • IPSCAN (USA)
  • Save the Children (Sweden)
  • Stand Up For Africa (UK)
  • YSA (USA)

Affiliations and networks

ESAM is the Beninese operative of the following organisations:

  • CATW (USA)
  • GYSD (USA)
  • IAVE (USA)
  • INFV (Cyprus)
  • RSVP (USA)

ESAM is a member of the following networks:

  • CoCONG Mono: Committee of NGOs based in the Mono
  • CRIN: Child Rights Information Network
  • GYAN (Global Youth Action Network)
  • IPSCAN: International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
  • ONG CBDD
  • RGD: Network of NGOs for Democratic Governance
  • RIAJ (Network of Youth Associations)
  • SOS Torture/ OMCT
  • YES (Youth Employment Summit)