France and Togo Review Development Partnership, Adopt 2026-2028 Cooperation Priorities

Investments

Wednesday, 10 June 2026 14:27

France and Togo Review Development Partnership, Adopt 2026-2028 Cooperation Priorities

(Togo First) - France and Togo have reviewed progress in their development partnership and agreed on the main priorities for bilateral cooperation for the 2026-2028 period. The priorities were established during a meeting of the Local Development Committee (CLD) held on June 5 in Lomé.

According to a communiqué issued on Monday, June 8, by the French Embassy, French institutions operating in Togo have committed €395 million (approximately CFA259 billion) to projects through the French Development Agency (AFD) in recent years.

That total includes infrastructure investments whose results French authorities highlighted: improved access to drinking water for more than 552,000 people, electricity access for 125,000 people, modernization of 49 technical and vocational training centers, and the construction or upgrading of more than 600 kilometers of rural roads, benefiting over 500,000 agricultural producers.

In higher education, Paris pointed to its support in establishing the École Polytechnique du Togo and the award of 95 French government scholarships to Togolese students. The Études en France program received more than 8,200 applications in 2025, while new Campus France centers opened in Lomé and Kara. Enrollment at accredited French-curriculum schools has grown to more than 2,500 students, up from 857 four years ago, representing a threefold increase.

France also highlighted its cultural and civil society initiatives, which reached 17,000 spectators through cultural and creative industries programs, provided training to 350 participants, supported 24 artistic residencies, and backed 13 civil society sports organizations benefiting nearly 5,000 young people. The Savanes region received €8 million in humanitarian funding during 2024-2025.

On the institutional front, France highlighted its role in helping establish the National Agency for Local Government Training (ANFCT), describing it as an important instrument for advancing Togo's decentralization agenda.

Three Priorities for 2026-2028

The CLD endorsed three strategic priorities for the next cooperation cycle: supporting inclusive, job-creating growth; strengthening infrastructure and essential services; and reinforcing governance and social cohesion. Two cross-cutting priorities were also adopted: promoting gender equality and increasing support for the Savanes region through initiatives aimed at strengthening territorial resilience.

The meeting underscores a longstanding partnership. The AFD, which has operated in Togo since 1957, is currently headed by Benjamin Neumann, who has led the country office since August 2025. According to comments he made earlier this year to Togo First, the agency's average annual funding commitments amount to around €40 million (CFA26 billion), primarily through concessional loans supporting water and sanitation, agriculture, and energy projects.

The new 2026-2028 cooperation framework comes as Lomé continues to diversify its sources of development financing and as preparations advance for the government's 2026-2031 roadmap.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

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.