Togo, World Bank assess performance of 18 active projects

Economic governance

Monday, 09 March 2026 13:55

Togo, World Bank assess performance of 18 active projects

(Togo First) - Togo and the World Bank held a meeting last week to review projects and programs financed by the lender in the country. The session brought together stakeholders involved in implementing the projects to assess the overall portfolio, identify constraints and propose solutions to improve delivery to local communities.

The World Bank's portfolio in Togo currently totals $1.49 billion and covers 18 active projects and programs, including 10 national and 8 regional. Separately, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Group's private-sector arm, invested about $320 million between 2020 and 2025 to support the development of Togo's private sector. The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) had a portfolio in Togo worth $172 million as of Dec. 31, 2025, in addition to a $585 million guarantee.

Those funds support initiatives across several key sectors, including employment, energy, governance, agriculture, health, education, local development, social protection, water access, transportation and urban development.

The review assessed the performance of ongoing projects, identified persistent constraints and agreed on corrective measures to strengthen their impact on the population.

Among the main challenges were slow procurement procedures, insufficient resources and limited capacity to absorb funds, which have delayed the implementation of some projects. Participants also highlighted difficulties related to inter-institutional coordination and the monitoring of certain activities.

In response, Anumu Ketoglo, economic adviser to the President of the Council, called on stakeholders to show greater speed, discipline and coordination. “Portfolio performance is not limited to financial commitments or disbursements. It is measured above all by the real impact of projects on people's lives,” he said.

Despite those constraints, World Bank Country Director for Togo Tony Verheijen praised the country’s track record. According to him, Togo has long stood out in the sub-region for the quality of its project portfolio management.

“This has translated into a gradual increase in the size of the portfolio over the years, with innovative projects that support Togo’s development ambitions and respond to the needs of its population,” he said.

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.