Togo-Benin Launch $5 Million Sustainable Development Strategy for Mono River Basin

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Tuesday, 30 September 2025 16:26

Togo-Benin Launch $5 Million Sustainable Development Strategy for Mono River Basin

Togo and Benin approved three instruments for the Mono River Basin: a monitoring system, a coordination mechanism, and a Gender Strategy 2025-2030.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) funds the $5 million IREE-Mono project over 48 months.
Officials warn that climate change, pollution, and land degradation threaten food security and productive capacity in the basin.

Authorities from Togo and Benin, together with technical partners, launched a three-day workshop in Lomé on September 29 to advance the Regional Initiative for Water and Environment in the Transboundary Mono River Basin (IREE-Mono). The project seeks to establish coordinated and sustainable management of the 530-km river, which sustains 4 million people across 24,300 km².

The Mono River underpins agriculture, fisheries, and energy in the region, but growing threats such as climate change, pollution, land degradation, and water insecurity are eroding its productivity, according to the Mono Basin Authority.

The Lomé meeting validated three instruments: a monitoring and evaluation system, a coordination mechanism, and a Gender Strategy 2025-2030.

“Gender integration is not a simple add-on, but a sine qua non condition for sustainability,” said Yawo Ewoenam Zegue, Secretary-General of Togo’s Ministry of Water and Sanitation. The gender framework aims to improve women’s and youth participation in water and agriculture, where they remain underrepresented despite central roles.

“The monitoring and evaluation system will improve performance, measure progress, identify weaknesses, and capitalize on best practices,” said Dadja Gnakpaou, Executive Director of the Mono Basin Authority. He highlighted underuse of water resources, environmental degradation, and limited data availability as central challenges.

$5 Million Investment

Launched in January 2025, IREE-Mono is financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with a $5 million budget for 48 months. The project seeks integrated and coordinated management of the basin’s resources.

Beyond environmental goals, IREE-Mono aims to strengthen Togo-Benin economic cooperation, boost agricultural productivity, preserve fisheries ecosystems, and build resilience in rural communities. Both countries want to transform the fragile resource into a driver of inclusive and sustainable development.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Adapted 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.