Lomé to host first Risk & Resilience Days as Togo seeks structured risk dialogue

Banking

Thursday, 02 April 2026 12:52

Lomé to host first Risk & Resilience Days as Togo seeks structured risk dialogue

(Togo First) - The Association for Risk and Insurance Management of Togo (AMRAT) will host its first major forum, the Risk & Resilience Days, on April 16 in Lomé. The event will bring together bankers, insurers, risk management experts and regulators to address emerging risks, amid rising concerns from the National Credit Council over non-performing loans.

The forum addresses a question African financial institutions have faced for years, often without a structured response: how to manage risks whose nature and pace of emergence have changed significantly. Climate risks, cyber threats, geopolitical instability and rapid digital transformation have expanded the range of vulnerabilities, while management tools have often struggled to keep pace. This will be the focus of discussions on April 16.

AMRAT’s approach is primarily institutional: creating a permanent platform for dialogue between practitioners, policymakers and experts, drawing on the model of similar associations already active in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal and Madagascar. In this sense, the April 16 forum marks both the association’s launch and a technical platform for the sector.

“Togo needs a structured risk culture, embedded in institutional practices rather than handled on a case-by-case basis,” said Khalid Yacoubou Boukari, president of AMRAT, who holds certifications in strategic banking management from HEC Paris and in risk management from BCEAO-COFEB.

Recent data supports this view. At a meeting on March 23, the National Credit Council flagged concerns: the rate of doubtful loans stands at 8.1% in banks and 9.3% in microfinance institutions, well above the 3% threshold. In microfinance, non-performing loans have increased by 49.2% over three years. Minister Barcola has called for stronger risk management and loan recovery practices.

According to the organisers, the event is supported by the Association of Togolese Banks (APBEF), the Togolese Insurers’ Committee, AGET and the employers’ association (Patronat). The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Togo is sponsoring the event. FinConnect Financial Solutions is co-organising and contributing its expertise in the digital transformation of financial institutions across the continent.

AMRAT does not position itself as a purely national body. It is already affiliated with the African Federation of Risk Management Associations and with IFRIMA, the sector’s international federation.

Fiacre Kakpo

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.