Togo begins digitizing foreign affairs services in four-week project

ITC

Thursday, 02 April 2026 13:37

Togo begins digitizing foreign affairs services in four-week project

(Togo First) - Togo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Togolese Diaspora has begun digitizing its services. The effort, part of the country’s Public Administration Digitalization Program, was launched on Tuesday by Foreign Affairs Minister Robert Dussey and Digital Public Services Minister Cina Lawson. The project is set to run over four weeks.

After the ministries of energy and tourism, the Foreign Affairs Ministry is among the latest to undergo digital transformation.

The project is structured around several pillars, including the rollout of connectivity infrastructure, the interconnection of services, and the digitization of internal processes. It also includes the introduction of email management systems and digital archiving systems to improve the flow of information across the administration.

At the government level, the broader objective is to strengthen public administration performance through digital technology.

A key component of the initiative focuses on capacity building, with more than 280 civil servants to be trained in cybersecurity practices and the use of digital tools. A data analysis unit is also planned to enable real-time performance monitoring and support policymaking.

The program also includes simplifying administrative procedures to make public services more accessible to the public.

For the foreign affairs minister, the shift is necessary in the context of broader public administration reform. “Digitalization is not simply an option for improvement, but a proven accelerator in achieving our country’s development objectives,” Dussey said.

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)

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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.