Togo launches SME selection under AfDB-backed agricultural value chain program

Agriculture

Friday, 27 March 2026 17:47

Togo launches SME selection under AfDB-backed agricultural value chain program

(Togo First) - Togo’s government has launched a call for expressions of interest to select 50 small and medium-sized enterprises to drive its agricultural value chain strategy.

The initiative is part of the Project to Support Young Entrepreneurs (PAJEC), co-financed by the Togolese state and the African Development Bank (AfDB), and implemented by the Agency for the Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ADTPME).

The program aims to support job creation for young people and women by developing priority agricultural sectors. Targeted value chains include maize, soybeans, cassava, rice, pineapple, sesame and cashew, as well as livestock and fisheries.

Companies selected through the call will be expected to act as anchor firms within agro-industrial clusters. Their role will be to strengthen value chains by securing raw material supply, processing output and improving market access.

They will also be required to sign contracts with producers, cooperatives and young entrepreneurs, and to support capacity building among these partners.

Eligibility requirements

To qualify, enterprises must demonstrate formal business registration, at least two to three years of operational experience depending on their profile, and established supply capacity. They must also show financial soundness and existing market access.

The program will provide technical and financial support, including upgrades to production equipment, access to financing and the development of new markets. Companies will be integrated into the program gradually, depending on sector and region.

The initiative includes specific provisions to encourage participation by women-led enterprises, which will benefit from more flexible eligibility criteria.

PAJEC was launched in February 2025 with a budget of 28 billion CFA francs, jointly funded by the Togolese state and the AfDB to support young and women entrepreneurs. It will be implemented by ADTPME over five years, with the aim of improving access to financing, markets and skills by integrating small and medium-sized enterprises into key value chains, particularly in agriculture.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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