Togo's 'Women And Finance' Program Launches Fourth Cohort For Women Entrepreneurs

Economic governance

Thursday, 27 November 2025 11:48

Togo's 'Women And Finance' Program Launches Fourth Cohort For Women Entrepreneurs

(Togo First) - The "Women And Finance" program launched its fourth cohort of 31 women entrepreneurs in Lomé recently.

The initiative, run by the SEPHIS Foundation in partnership with African Guarantee Fund (AGF) and Ecobank Togo, aims to support a total of 125 women business leaders through capacity building and preparation for access to credit.

Since its introduction in Togo in May 2025, the program has combined technical training, financial structuring and networking with banking institutions. The goal is to improve the quality of business projects and facilitate their financing. This effort addresses a context where access to funding remains a major constraint for female-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Sefora Kodjo, President of the Board of the SEPHIS Foundation, reminded participants of the importance of maintaining high standards in their activities. "Your credibility relies on the consistent quality of your product or service," she said, emphasizing the critical role of entrepreneurial discipline.

Ecobank Togo, the program's financial partner, aims to strengthen credit access for women-led SMEs. "We want to support structures that actively contribute to the national economy," said Laurinda Amevor, head of the Ellever program.

African Guarantee Fund completes the program by providing guarantee solutions to reduce the risks associated with business financing. Since 2016, its partnership with SEPHIS and Ecobank has mobilized over one billion CFA francs in credits in other countries.

A fifth and final cohort for the program in Togo is planned for January 2026. Applications are open until December 20, 2025.

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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.