Togo Approves New 10-Year Decentralization Roadmap

Economic governance

Saturday, 27 December 2025 15:37

Togo Approves New 10-Year Decentralization Roadmap

(Togo First) - Togo has adopted a new decentralization roadmap covering the period from 2025 to 2034, aimed at strengthening local governance. The policy framework was approved by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.

According to an official statement, the national decentralization policy will serve as a strategic framework to strengthen local governance, build the capacity of local authorities, and advance decentralization in support of local development and citizen participation. It builds on the government’s existing roadmap and incorporates recommendations made during the fifth meeting of the National Decentralization Council in November 2022.

Launched in 2019 with the election of municipal councilors and the creation of new communes, the decentralization process has emerged as an effective response to development and democratization challenges, the Council of Ministers said. The updated framework is intended to address shortcomings identified in the transfer of powers and financial resources to local authorities.

The roadmap is expected to strengthen communes’ capacity to undertake large-scale projects, particularly in the delivery of local public services, land-use planning, and local revenue mobilization.

Togo has 117 communes, grouped into 39 prefectures across five administrative regions. In addition to the central government and local authorities, several technical and financial partners are closely monitoring the process, which is viewed as critical to sustainable public policy and territorial inclusion.

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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.