(Togo First) - A hundred thousand direct jobs per year and a million (both direct and indirect) over the next five years. That is the goal aimed at by Togo’s actual government. A laudable objective but is it truly achievable or will this path lead to a white elephant? How do authorities plan to finance this goal? What types of jobs will be generated? Will they be sustainable? Decent? Temporary? These are some of many concerns revolving around this forecast, which could, if attained, resolve Togo’s unemployment issue.

Regardless of all these interrogations, the government actually shows a strong will to achieve its target. Now, this will must be converted into palpable actions. Does the country have the means to realize this ambition, in the present context? That is the main question.

In response to the various concerns mentioned earlier, the government declared: “Government’s proactive political agenda is based on realist projections for decent and sustainable jobs. It could lead to the creation, over the 2018-2022 period, at an average growth rate of 6.6%, of at least 500,000 direct jobs, thus at least 100,000 direct jobs per year”.  

Moreover, “adding various impacts that could create indirect jobs, we want to generate at least a million jobs (direct and indirect) in 2018-2022, at a pace of about 200,000 jobs a year,” the authorities added. 

Targeting sectors with a strong potential for job creation

Togo has last August 3, during a highly anticipated ministers’ council, launched its 2018-2022 national development (PND 2018-2022). The 200-page document reviews the country’s economy following the implementation of the Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Employment Promotion (SCAPE).

The latter helped modernize various logistics infrastructures. As a result, Togo was ranked 12^th in terms of transport infrastructures in Africa, under the latest Mo Ibrahim Index on Governance.

The PND which is an ambitious roadmap revolves around three strategic axes. It has already received a lot of support as it is being executed. Visible results include the beginning of a 65MW thermal plant. Siemens which was selected to ensure the maintenance of this infrastructure recently told Togo First it would hire local workers in this framework.

The document paves the way for a new paradigm under which the private sector will greatly contribute (65% of all investments) to the structural transformation of Togo.

The PND indeed positions the private sector, regrouping both local and foreign investors, as a major catalyzer of the process and targets sectors with high potential for job creation. In detail, sectors eyed are logistics, agropoles, manufacturing, tourism and digital; all sectors with great potential for job creation that should allow the government to achieve its goals for 2030.

However, the program will have to overcome old challenges such as authorities’ inefficiency which was highly criticized in the latest Mo Ibrahim and MCC reports.

On a more positive note, Togo’s business environment seems to be improving due to the various reforms implemented by the government in this regard. Across the ECOWAS, the country is the fourth most attractive economy, according to the latest Doing Business ranking where Togo gained 19 places compared to the previous edition.

Fiacre E. Kakpo