Togo, Germany Launch GNOZOU Local Governance Project, Backed by CFA 4.85B Funding

Economic governance

Thursday, 11 June 2026 17:16

Togo, Germany Launch GNOZOU Local Governance Project, Backed by CFA 4.85B Funding

(Togo First) - Togo and Germany have launched a new phase of their development partnership focused on local and regional governance, with the official rollout of the "GNOZOU" project on Tuesday in Kara, 412 kilometers north of Lomé.

Backed by 4.85 billion CFA francs (€7.4 million), the four-year initiative will support decentralization and local development in the Kara and Savanes regions.

GNOZOU will focus on several strategic priorities, including regional planning, local economic development, job creation, financial governance, civic participation, and the better use of local resources and assets.

The program is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and funded by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It aims to strengthen the capacity of local authorities to better harness the economic and social resources available within their communities.

The program also includes measures to increase youth participation in local development initiatives and promote social cohesion across the target regions.

The initiative comes as Togo's National Decentralization Policy 2025–2034 seeks to transfer greater responsibilities to local governments while improving the quality of public services.

For Togolese authorities, the challenge now is to turn the institutional gains achieved through decentralization into tangible benefits for local communities. GNOZOU is expected to strengthen the capabilities of local governments and improve the management of responsibilities devolved by the central government.

Regional governorates, regional councils, municipalities, civil society organizations, private-sector stakeholders, and public administrations are among the key partners involved in implementing the project.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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.