Togo Devolves Climate Planning, Giving Each Region Its Own Adaptation Strategy

Agriculture

Thursday, 28 August 2025 08:43

Togo Devolves Climate Planning, Giving Each Region Its Own Adaptation Strategy

(Togo First) - Nearly a decade after adopting its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) in 2016, every region in Togo now has its own Regional Adaptation Plan (RAP). The documents were approved in mid-August 2025 following a series of workshops held from August 11 to 19 by the Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The RAPs are a strategic tool for regional resilience, designed to strengthen the capacity of socio-economic sectors to withstand recurring climate risks. According to Oyétoundé Djiwa, head of the FAO office in Togo, the plans will help regional councils better plan for their territory's development with a focus on sustainability and carbon neutrality.

Developed under the "Strengthening National and Regional Capacities for Effective Climate Risk Management in Togo" project, which is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the plans aim to make each region a key player in its own resilience. The goal is to enable local authorities to anticipate major climate impacts, protect vulnerable populations, and preserve natural resources.

Local authorities in the Central region have particularly praised the initiative. "When we analyze the priority actions contained in our region's RAP, we realize that they address specific concerns related to the effects of climate change, the implementation of which will strengthen the resilience of the sectors," said Souroudé Aboutou, Chief of Staff for the Central Region Council.

For the government, adopting these documents is a continuation of Togo's environmental commitments. Their implementation is expected to mitigate climate risks and impacts on the most vulnerable socio-economic sectors at a regional level.

Esaïe Edoh

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.