Togo: Basic Social Safety Nets Ends, Impacting over 100,000 Households

Public Management

Tuesday, 28 May 2024 14:52

Togo: Basic Social Safety Nets Ends, Impacting over 100,000 Households

(Togo First) - The Basic Social Safety Nets (BSSN) project in Togo was officially closed on May 24, 2024, after 6 years of implementation. The project, led by the National Agency for the Promotion of Grassroots Development (ANADEB), absorbed over XOF 39 billion in funding from the World Bank, the French Development Agency, and the Togolese government.

The project provided over 15 million school meals to 52,173 students across 161 public primary schools. It also delivered cash transfers to 104,240 households in nearly 975 localities and offered business development training to 13,732 women.

The World Bank's social portfolio head, Raphaela Béatrice Karlen, commended the BSSN's results underscoring how they met beneficiaries’ expectations. "While we are pleased to have supported the government in achieving and exceeding all the objectives set by the project and successfully meeting the expectations of the beneficiary communities, we recognize that the reduction of extreme poverty and vulnerability must continue, drawing lessons from the project's experience to build a strong and sustainable social protection system," she noted.

The Minister of Grassroots Development, Myriame Dossou, highlighted the BSSN's role in strengthening resilience and social cohesion within communities through support measures, training, educational discussions, and capacity building.

Initially scheduled to end in 2021, the project was extended until 2024 due to its importance and relevance in improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable populations.

Esaïe Edoh

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.