Togo: Who is Benjamin Neumann, the New Head of AFD in Lomé?

Finance

Thursday, 02 October 2025 13:28

Togo: Who is Benjamin Neumann, the New Head of AFD in Lomé?

The French Development Agency (AFD) manages a portfolio of over €300 million in Togo, with annual commitments of €40–50 million.
Benjamin Neumann, with 15 years of experience in fragile regions such as the Sahel, took charge of the Lomé office in August 2025.
His appointment comes as Togo seeks to diversify financial partnerships amid rising competition from China, Turkey, Russia, and Gulf states.

The French Development Agency (AFD) appointed Benjamin Neumann as its new country director in Lomé in August 2025. He replaces Zolika Bouabdallah at a time when Togo is accelerating its development agenda and expanding its financial partnerships.

Neumann, an economist and journalist by training, brings more than 15 years of experience in international development. He previously worked at Proparco, AFD’s communications unit, and the Crises and Conflicts division, where he helped deploy the “3D” approach — Defense, Diplomacy, Development — in the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea. Most recently, he led the Grand Sahel Unit, managing programs in fragile but strategic countries.

AFD’s Role in Togo

AFD is a key partner in Togo’s development strategy. Its portfolio covers around ten projects worth more than €300 million, targeting education, agriculture, health, urban infrastructure, and energy transition. The agency commits between €40 million and €50 million annually.

AFD also contributes to regional programs on climate change and resilience in the Gulf of Guinea. Proparco, its private sector arm, co-finances a 62 MW solar plant in Sokodé with the African Development Bank. In northern regions such as Savanes and Kara, AFD supports agricultural water management projects. In Lomé, it participates in the financing of the port container terminal, a critical hub for trade in West Africa.

Neumann’s nomination comes as Togo intensifies its engagement with bilateral and multilateral lenders. The government’s roadmap highlights priorities including economic inclusion, infrastructure development, debt management, and resource mobilization to meet demographic growth.

According to AFD, Neumann’s mission is to “put his expertise at the service of Togo’s priorities and strengthen partnerships with local authorities and stakeholders.”

AFD’s mandate faces challenges as France’s influence in Africa is increasingly contested. Anti-French sentiment and the entry of new players such as Turkey, China, Russia, and Gulf countries reshape the region’s financing landscape. Neumann’s leadership will be tested by the need to consolidate AFD’s local partnerships while navigating a competitive geopolitical environment.

This article was initially published in French by Fiacre E. Kakpo

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.