Togo Approves Policy to Extend Social Safety Net

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Friday, 19 December 2025 10:50

Togo Approves Policy to Extend Social Safety Net

(Togo First) - Togo has approved a national social protection policy aimed at strengthening the fight against poverty and reducing vulnerability, according to a statement issued after a cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.

The policy seeks to provide a structured response to high household exposure to economic and social risks, particularly in rural areas. It is designed to support the most vulnerable groups, including those affected by illness, unemployment, old age or natural disasters, by ensuring a minimum level of income security and improved access to basic social services.

The government said the policy is expected to consolidate existing social protection mechanisms, improve coordination among public programmes and support inclusive and sustainable economic development.

As part of this effort, the framework aims to provide clearer guidance for public action in key sectors such as health, education, nutrition and child protection. It also seeks to extend coverage to groups traditionally excluded from formal social security systems, notably informal sector workers, women and young people.

Authorities noted that Togo has invested for several years in strengthening its social protection system, resulting in measurable progress in poverty reduction and vulnerability mitigation. However, persistent structural challenges prompted the adoption of a more coherent and comprehensive strategic framework.

The policy is set to become a central pillar of the country’s national strategy to reduce poverty and promote social cohesion.

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)

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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.