The World Bank launches a new series of consultations on its country partnership framework with Togo

Economy

Friday, 27 January 2023 16:43

The World Bank launches a new series of consultations on its country partnership framework with Togo

(Togo First) - The World Bank’s branch in Togo launched this week, consultations with various development actors, towards the elaboration of its new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) with the West African State. The new document will cover the years 2023 to 2027.

The recently-launched consultations 8gbakas involve deputies, the private sector, civil society organizations, the media, women and youth organizations, academics, and think tanks, among others. They follow the first phase of consultations launched last year.

"During the first phase, we met with the Government, the Federation of Municipalities of Togo, and technical and financial partners. This has already allowed us to have some guidance on the major priorities to be taken into account," said Fily Sissoko, representative of the World Bank in Togo. "This time, we also intend to travel to the interior of the country to meet with all the other actors and gather their opinions on the priorities at the regional and local levels that need to be taken into account," he added.

The new series of consultations will close on February 3, 2023. With them, the World Bank aims to ensure that its new country partnership framework with Togo “remains well-aligned with the government’s top priorities, now and in the future.”

Throughout the consultations, participants will discuss the new framework, toward ensuring that “the institution’s decisions meet expectations and are in line with the country’s vision of development, as set out in the government’s 2020-2025 Roadmap.”

As part of its previous Partnership Framework (2017 - 2022) with the country, the World Bank committed $1.28 billion to Togo. The funds served to finance several projects falling under three main areas of intervention in Togo’s national development strategy. These include private sector performance and job creation; inclusive public service delivery to strengthen human capital; and environmental sustainability and resilience.

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.