Togo lays groundwork for climate-linked business investment

Economic governance

Wednesday, 18 March 2026 12:37

Togo lays groundwork for climate-linked business investment

(Togo First) - Togo has stepped up efforts to engage the private sector in tackling climate change, with a new phase launched this week in Lomé.

A two-day workshop opened on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), bringing together nearly 70 business leaders to review and endorse two strategic documents.

The meeting aims to set a framework for private sector participation in climate policy while identifying business opportunities linked to the environmental transition.

Targeted sectors include agriculture, forestry, fishing, livestock and water resource management, all of which are particularly vulnerable to climate change.

The workshop is expected to produce two documents. The first sets out how the private sector will engage, while the second outlines financing mechanisms and investment opportunities.

“These documents clarify how the Togolese private sector will engage on climate issues and what opportunities are available,” said Dr. Diwa Oyetunde, FAO representative in Togo.

Consultations are also underway with private stakeholders to define five- and ten-year plans, particularly to help companies access climate financing.

On financing options, Oyetunde said existing global mechanisms already allow private firms to access funding, including loans.

“We are working with the Ministry of Commerce and the employers' federation to support companies in sectors such as agriculture, livestock, fishing and forestry, factoring in the costs of climate action. Ultimately, this should create jobs, improve sanitation and benefit the population,” she said.

For authorities and partners, the immediate priority is to strengthen the resilience of productive sectors and support job creation in the green economy.

Over the longer term, these guidelines are intended to help develop a national climate investment market and further integrate Togolese companies into sustainable value chains.

R.E.D

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.