AfDB, Togo Adopt Action Plan to Improve Portfolio Performance in 2025

Economic governance

Tuesday, 30 September 2025 16:45

AfDB, Togo Adopt Action Plan to Improve Portfolio Performance in 2025

The AfDB and Togo reviewed a CFA353 billion portfolio of 25 active projects, with a disbursement rate of only 37.25%.
The review identified delays in project starts, procurement bottlenecks, and weak follow-up as persistent challenges.
The AfDB pledged additional resources and new measures, including the PAP 2025 plan, to improve efficiency and quality.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Togolese government concluded their 2025 country portfolio review last week, covering CFA353 billion across 25 active projects. The review produced an operational action plan with recommendations to strengthen efficiency and improve project quality.

Officials highlighted progress in electricity access, agricultural productivity, and reduced border transit times, in line with the government’s Togo 2025 roadmap. However, they also noted ongoing challenges such as slow project start-ups, complex procurement procedures, and weak monitoring of recommendations.

AfDB Country Manager Wilfried Abiola said the portfolio’s overall disbursement rate stood at 37.25%, with stronger results in finance (63%) and agriculture (43%). He stressed the need to address bottlenecks through the Portfolio Performance Improvement Plan (PAP 2025), better project quality at entry, and faster disbursement timelines.

The AfDB reaffirmed its commitment to mobilize additional resources for Togo’s development priorities while reinforcing joint monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

Recent initiatives backed by the institution include a CFA131.2 billion partial credit guarantee, the CFA20.1 billion Kara Phase II agro-food transformation project, and a CFA40 billion 42 MWac solar power plant in Sokodé.

These investments reflect the AfDB’s strategy to combine infrastructure development with financial support instruments to unlock private sector growth.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

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.