Togo: African Lease secures CFA19.7 bln IFC-backed facility for SMEs

Finance

Tuesday, 26 May 2026 14:55

Togo: African Lease secures CFA19.7 bln IFC-backed facility for SMEs

(Togo First) - The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group’s private-sector arm, and African Lease Togo (ALT) have expanded their partnership in Togo through a 30 million euro (CAF19.7 billion) financing facility aimed at supporting small businesses and boosting access to credit.

The agreement, announced in Lomé, is structured in two equal tranches, with 15 million euros provided directly by the IFC and another 15 million euros mobilized from partner institutions. The funding will allow African Lease Togo to expand its leasing and factoring activities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.

At least 25% of the financing will be allocated to the agricultural sector, particularly agricultural value chains, agro-processing businesses and smallholder farmers, many of whom continue to face difficulties accessing equipment and medium-term financing.

The initiative comes as limited access to credit remains a major constraint on private-sector growth in Togo, especially for agribusinesses and women-led businesses. Part of the facility will specifically support female entrepreneurs as part of broader efforts to strengthen financial inclusion.

Toussaint Sossou, managing director of African Lease Togo, said the operation supports the economic transformation goals outlined in the government’s upcoming 2026-2030 development roadmap, which is expected to focus on industrialization, infrastructure development and private-sector growth.

African Lease Togo also plans to strengthen its digital and operational capacities to provide faster and more customized financing solutions to businesses throughout the country.

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.