World Bank Approves $323 Million in Regional Financing That Includes Togo
Tuesday, 30 June 2026 14:55 
(Togo First) - The World Bank Group has approved two regional financing packages totaling $323 million, with Togo among the participating countries. Approved within days of each other, the two operations focus on expanding electricity access, creating jobs and strengthening community resilience, particularly in the country's northern regions.
The first package, worth $163 million, will expand the Northern Gulf of Guinea Social Cohesion Project (COSO) across Togo, Benin and Côte d'Ivoire. The second, valued at $160 million, will finance the Regional Affordable Sustainable Energy for All (RAISE) Project, which will be implemented with ECOWAS in Togo and The Gambia.
Jobs and Resilience in Northern Togo
The additional financing for the COSO project will reach an additional 1.9 million people across the three countries, fund more than 2,200 community subprojects, create nearly 52,000 direct jobs, mainly for young people and women, and support more than 600 local businesses.
In Togo, where the program has been active since 2022 in regions affected by insecurity spilling over from the Sahel, the project has already delivered 1,461 subprojects, improving access to essential services for more than 500,000 people, including over 24,000 refugees.
According to Trina Haque, the World Bank's Regional Director for People in Western and Central Africa, the COSO project is creating economic opportunities by investing in local infrastructure, small businesses and community-driven solutions while also strengthening stability and social cohesion.
Electricity to Support Growth
At the same time, the World Bank is financing the RAISE project to improve access to reliable, affordable and clean electricity in Togo and The Gambia. The program will expand and strengthen electricity distribution networks, reduce connection costs and accelerate renewable energy development.
According to the institution, nearly 1 million people will gain access to electricity through the project. In Togo, the economic benefits are expected to be equivalent to about 9,200 jobs a year through the project's direct and indirect impact on businesses, agriculture, services and other income-generating activities.
Nathan Belete, the World Bank's Regional Director for Africa, said the RAISE initiative demonstrates the transformative role electricity can play in inclusive development. By leveraging regional coordination and shared infrastructure, he said, the project shows how cooperation among countries can accelerate electrification, lower costs and deliver greater benefits to economies and communities.
The two new operations add to the World Bank's recent investments in Togo. In recent weeks, the institution approved CFA115 billion in financing to improve the country's transport infrastructure and launched a separate initiative to strengthen governance and fiduciary oversight of public projects.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
