West African Experts Meet in Togo to Validate Volta Basin Ecosystem Tool

Economic governance

Wednesday, 25 February 2026 11:25

West African Experts Meet in Togo to Validate Volta Basin Ecosystem Tool

Experts from the Volta Basin Authority (VBA) have been meeting in Lomé since Tuesday, Feb. 24, to finalize a tool aimed at better integrating environmental considerations into regional economic decision-making.

At the center of the discussions is the validation of the project’s fourth technical report, which assesses the natural capital and ecosystem services provided by the basin. The objective is to develop indicators that better quantify nature’s contribution to national economies.

“The Volta Basin has vast resources in hydroelectricity, agriculture and aquaculture. All of these are services provided by the environment,” said Dr. Dibi Millogo, Deputy Executive Director of the VBA.

He added that the goal is not only to establish robust environmental indicators, but also to adopt a common methodological framework shared by member states.

The meeting is part of a series of technical workshops held since 2025, including sessions in Bamako and Lomé, aimed at harmonizing approaches among the six VBA member countries. Before endorsing the new document, participants are reviewing earlier reports to strengthen the project’s methodological framework.

The workshop is scheduled to conclude on Friday, Feb. 27. Its recommendations are expected to inform public policies on water resource management, energy planning and ecosystem protection.

The initiative ultimately seeks to better align economic development with environmental sustainability, at a time when the region faces rapid population growth and increasing climate-related pressures.

One of West Africa’s largest transboundary river systems, the Volta Basin covers about 407,000 square kilometers across six countries: Burkina Faso, Mali, Benin, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Structured around the Black, White and Red Voltas and the Oti River, it feeds Lake Volta, one of the world’s largest man-made lakes.

Although Burkina Faso and Ghana account for more than 85% of the basin’s surface area, the interdependence between upstream and downstream countries requires sustained cross-border coordination led by the Volta Basin Authority.

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.