Togo Prepares €350M Commercial Loans Backed by AfDB Guarantee

Public finance

Monday, 12 May 2025 14:39

Togo Prepares €350M Commercial Loans Backed by AfDB Guarantee

(Togo First) - Togo plans to raise €350 million through two commercial loans from international banks, confirmed S&P, following a €200 million guarantee from the African Development Bank (AfDB) secured in November 2024.

This first-time arrangement allows Lomé to access better market terms thanks to AfDB’s solid backing via the African Development Fund (ADF). Togo wants to fund green and social projects and reduce reliance on the costly, volatile regional debt market.

The Togolese government published its Sustainable Financing Framework in October 2024, validated by S&P. The loans will finance sustainable agriculture, water management, social protection, digital inclusion, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Togo faces soaring regional rates and shorter maturities in the WAEMU market since 2022, pushing Lomé to rebalance its debt portfolio. S&P projects non-WAEMU financing could reach 50% of Togo’s debt by 2026, up from 42% at end-2024.

Togo has already secured a $200 million World Bank loan for 2025 and aims to finalize these two new AfDB-backed loans soon. While S&P cites several multilateral institutions as potential guarantors, only AfDB’s €200 million guarantee is public. The World Bank’s new Country Partnership Framework also offers innovative finance options through IDA and its guarantee platform, supported by MIGA.

This operation could set a precedent for other regional countries to combine commercial borrowing with multilateral guarantees to secure better financing terms.

This article was initially published in French by Fiacre E. Kakpo

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

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.