Togo Plans National Survey to Map Financial Access Gaps

Finance

Monday, 03 November 2025 18:01

Togo Plans National Survey to Map Financial Access Gaps

(Togo First) - Togo will launch a nationwide data collection campaign on November 6 to update its database on financial inclusion among households and businesses. The month-long campaign, running through December 6, 2025, is being carried out by the government in partnership with the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO).

Authorities said the initiative aims to strengthen policy planning to expand access to financial services, particularly for vulnerable populations. The survey will provide updated indicators on both the supply and demand of financial products, whether formal or informal.

“The baseline survey on the demand and supply for financial services will measure access and usage levels, identify needs and obstacles, and highlight opportunities for improving financial inclusion across different user categories,” said a joint statement from Minister of Development Planning and Cooperation Sandra Johnson, Finance Minister Georges Barcola, Minister of Territorial Administration Hodabalo Awaté, and Minister of Economy and Strategic Foresight Badanam Patoki.

The National Institute of Statistics, Economic and Demographic Studies (INSEED) will oversee technical coordination and field operations across the country. Enumerators will gather data from households, businesses, and financial institutions to capture local economic realities.

The findings are expected to help the government assess progress in financial inclusion and design better-targeted policies to bring more citizens into the financial system. They will also help identify underserved regions or groups, supporting the creation of tailored strategies to improve access to banking, digital, and microfinance services.

According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, 87.1 percent of Togolese used financial services in 2023, a level driven in part by government programs such as the National Inclusive Finance Fund (FNFI), launched in 2014, which has enabled hundreds of thousands of citizens to access credit suited to their activities.

Esaïe Edoh

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