Togo: Government to spend over CFA20bn this year to enable more people to get access to drinking water

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Wednesday, 26 January 2022 17:17

Togo: Government to spend over CFA20bn this year to enable more people to get access to drinking water

(Togo First) - In line with its 2022 budget law, the government of Togo plans to spend CFA23 billion on clean water supply this year. This is more than it allocated for the same purpose last year, CFA17 billion; this is in a context where the service rate in rural and urban areas are currently estimated at 68% and 58%, respectively.

In the coming months, several drinking water supply projects started in 2021 are expected to reach cruising speed. Among these, there is the national drinking water supply plan launched in February 2021. Under this project, over 300 hydraulic pumps are to be installed in the north and they should improve sanitary conditions in schools and rural areas in the Kara and Savanes regions (PASSCO). The national drinking water supply plan is backed by France, through its Development Agency (AFD) which disbursed CFA6.5 billion to this end.

Another project is the master plan for the supply of Greater Lomé, which the government started working on in September 2021. The program aims to meet the demand for drinking water in the capital and its outskirts over the next 30 years.

After announcing last year that boosting access to clean water was one of its priorities, the government said it wanted to ensure that 85% of the country gets clean water by 2025, and 100% by 2030. With these deadlines set, the country initiated major projects such as the Support Program for Vulnerable Populations (PAPV). The latter is backed by the EU and China, among others.

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.