The objectives of this project(1997-2001) using $40 million of IDA funds were to: (i)safeguard the competitiveness of Benin's transportsector and of its transit corridor through open modalcompetition; (ii) improve government's capacity forplanning, programming and managing transport sectorinvestments; (iii) boost the allocation of resources toinfrastructure maintenance; (iv) boost the recovery of userinfrastructure charges; (v) expand private sectorparticipation in public works and maximize its impact on thecreation of jobs for unskilled labor; (vi) build capacity insector institutions and optimize human resource utilization;and (vii) protect the environment and improve safety conditions.