Togo Hosts WEN-Africa Conference on Gender Inequalities in Energy

Energy

Wednesday, 14 January 2026 10:43

Togo Hosts WEN-Africa Conference on Gender Inequalities in Energy

(Togo First) - The Women in Energy Network-Africa (WEN-Africa) is holding a meeting in Lomé this week focused on reducing gender inequalities in the energy sector. The event brings together institutional partners under the theme “Addressing Gender Inequalities in Energy: Partnerships for Sustainability.”

The conference, which ends on Wednesday, includes panel discussions led by partner institutions and energy sector representatives from several African countries. Speakers are expected to outline WEN-Africa’s mission and progress since its launch, and to share partner experiences.

Participants are also reviewing the benefits of joining the platform, existing best practices, and the impact of partnerships in narrowing gender gaps in the energy sector in sub-Saharan Africa.

Attendees include Kwawu Gaba, the World Bank’s energy sector manager, and Robert Koffi Messan Eklo, Togo’s minister delegate for energy and mineral resources.

Gaba said the platform aims to strengthen women’s participation in energy policy, planning and operations, build technical and leadership skills, and foster partnerships that support inclusive and sustainable energy development. He added that the initiative also seeks to help women and young people use energy access to develop economic activities, support education, improve health outcomes and drive innovation in their communities.

Eklo welcomed the Lomé meeting as a step toward greater equality in the sector. “By gathering here in Lomé, we are taking a collective step to ensure that Africa’s energy transition is not only clean and resilient, but also inclusive and gives women their full place,” he said.

Launched in February 2024, WEN-Africa is supported by the World Bank and aims to increase women’s participation and employment in Africa’s energy sector in partnership with international institutions.

Esaïe Edoh

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.