African cotton producers will meet in Lomé from April 14 to 17, 2026, to review the sector’s performance and identify ways to boost productivity, at a time when several producing countries face structural challenges.

The meeting, part of the 18th session of the Regional Program for Integrated Cotton Production in Africa (PR-PICA), will bring together companies, researchers, producer organizations and agrochemical firms from across the region.

Participants will review the results of the 2025–2026 season in eight West and Central African countries, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Senegal, Chad and Togo, before discussing key constraints affecting output and competitiveness.

Talks will also cover production practices such as pest control, soil fertility management and the development of crop varieties adapted to climate variability.

The discussions are expected to support efforts to improve production across participating countries, particularly in Togo, where the cotton sector has struggled in recent years.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo has introduced a new regulatory framework for its forestry sector. A ministerial order issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest Resources, Coastal Protection and Climate Change took effect on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, setting out how to obtain certificates, licences, authorisations and permits in the sector.

The rules introduce reforestation certificates and logging authorisations. Plantation owners can obtain reforestation certificates once their trees are at least three years old. They must also secure approval before carrying out any logging.

The order states that all imports and exports of forest products require prior authorisation. “Import licences are valid for 18 months and export licences for one year,” the ministry said.

Transporting forest products now requires both an authorisation and a transport permit.

The measure aims to bring Togo in line with international standards, help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and boost its international credibility. It also clarifies procedures and is expected to improve transparency and efficiency in managing the sector.

The government has launched several initiatives to protect forest resources, including a national reforestation programme aiming to plant one billion trees by 2030.

Esaïe Edoh

The Noépé-Akanu joint border post between Togo and Ghana has been upgraded to improve cross-border trade flows.

The official handover took place on Monday, March 16, 2026, in the presence of Togolese Minister of Economy and Strategic Intelligence Badanam Patoki and Ghanaian Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjaré, Togo Presse reported.

The works were carried out by Trade Mark Africa to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The upgrades aim to boost the site’s operational capacity and include solar power systems, water supply upgrades, improved drainage and renovated sanitation facilities.

Located on the Abidjan-Lagos corridor, the Noépé-Akanu post is a key transit point for regional trade. The crossing had been hindered by limited energy supply, connectivity and basic infrastructure, slowing border operations.

The new facilities are expected to reduce crossing times, improve working conditions for border officials and streamline procedures for users. They should also improve the security and reliability of border operations.

Authorities in Togo and Ghana say the investments aim to improve the corridor’s competitiveness and boost trade within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Togo's non-financial market services rebounded 13.6% month-on-month in December 2025, according to BCEAO data, after a 5.9% decline in November.

The category covers market services including trade, transport, hospitality, telecommunications and business services.

On an annual basis, Togo recorded a 5.1% increase, broadly in line with levels across the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). Across WAEMU, year-on-year growth slowed to 4.5% from 5.2% the previous month, according to the central bank.

The December rebound extends a year marked by sharp swings. Annual growth reached 19.5% in November 2025 before monthly declines were followed by rebounds. In September, year-on-year growth stood at 6.1%.

This contrasts with financial services, which include banking, insurance, microfinance and payments.

Financial services posted steadier growth, rising 4.7% in December 2025 after a 3.3% gain in November. Year-on-year growth reached 15.2%, in line with regional trends.

In 2025, the segment was supported by the expansion of banking and digital services. Non-financial services, by contrast, remain sensitive to domestic demand and seasonal effects.

R.E.D

Togo posted one of the fastest growth rates in active mobile money accounts in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) between 2023 and 2024, according to a recent BCEAO report on digital financial services.

The number of active accounts rose 76.87%, placing Togo ahead of Niger and Guinea-Bissau. Across WAEMU, active accounts reached 76.8 million in 2024, up 11.6% year on year.

Mobile money accounts are digital wallets, often linked to phone numbers, that allow users to store funds and make payments or transfers. In Togo, services include Mixx and Flooz, as well as ATM withdrawals.

By the end of 2024, Togo had 12.55 million mobile money accounts, of which 6.07 million were active, with an activity rate of 48.35%. The distribution network included more than 81,000 service points and nearly 5,800 merchants accepting electronic payments.

Across WAEMU, total accounts reached 248 million in 2024, up nearly 19% year on year. Transaction activity also increased, rising 27% in volume and more than 20% in value to 160.4 trillion CFA francs.

Despite this growth, usage remains dominated by deposits and withdrawals. Greater use of digital payments and transfers is expected to boost everyday adoption.

In Togo, this growth is driven by regulatory and innovation-led initiatives. The BCEAO has expanded market access by licensing new fintech players. The country is also participating in the rollout of the PI-SPI interoperable instant payment platform, which enables real-time transactions between banks, mobile money operators and other financial institutions, though uptake remains gradual.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo’s administrative coordination meetings, a formal mechanism to coordinate local state services, began operating last week with the first sessions held in several prefectures.

Chaired by prefects, the meetings mark a new phase in local governance and aim to improve coordination of public services.

Sessions were held in the prefectures of Binah, Bassar, Blitta, Bas-Mono, Agoè-Nyivé, Kozah and Tône. They brought together mayors, heads of local state services, law enforcement representatives and traditional chiefs. Discussions focused on the objectives of the meetings, how they will operate, the role of prefects and the responsibilities of each stakeholder.

The meetings aim to provide a forum for consultation, planning and monitoring of public policy at regional and prefectural levels. They also allowed participants to review progress on government programs and projects and propose measures suited to local needs.

Designed to address administrative inefficiencies, serve as an early warning system and improve information sharing, the meetings also aim to make government action more visible to local communities.

The rollout will continue in the country’s remaining prefectures. Further meetings are scheduled for June, September and December.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo held a review meeting on Tuesday in Lomé to assess progress on the construction of a ministerial city complex, bringing together authorities, technical partners and local communities to evaluate both implementation and environmental impact.

Technical officials said the project was carried out in consultation with local administrations, including the Gulf prefecture and the Gulf 3 municipality, as well as the National Expropriation Commission (COMEX).

“All stakeholders confirm they were involved in the process and that compensation has been paid,” said Souleymane Abdel Ganiou, director of environmental assessments and integration, on the sidelines of the meeting.

Authorities said most people affected by the project have been compensated. Payments covered agricultural land at a rate of 5 million CFA francs ($8,200) per hectare, along with crop losses over two growing seasons. Buildings were also fully compensated to enable reconstruction, according to official data.

Located in Bè-Klévé, the ministerial city project is part of broader efforts to modernize public administration. It involves the construction of 18 administrative buildings, partly financed by the West African Development Bank for 20 billion CFA francs.

Structured as a public-private partnership with the PFO Group through its subsidiary SOCOCIM, the project relies on a build-lease model that allows the state to mobilize private financing while retaining land ownership.

Once completed, the complex is expected to host several government departments, streamline administrative operations and generate economic activity during both construction and operation.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo has stepped up efforts to engage the private sector in tackling climate change, with a new phase launched this week in Lomé.

A two-day workshop opened on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), bringing together nearly 70 business leaders to review and endorse two strategic documents.

The meeting aims to set a framework for private sector participation in climate policy while identifying business opportunities linked to the environmental transition.

Targeted sectors include agriculture, forestry, fishing, livestock and water resource management, all of which are particularly vulnerable to climate change.

The workshop is expected to produce two documents. The first sets out how the private sector will engage, while the second outlines financing mechanisms and investment opportunities.

“These documents clarify how the Togolese private sector will engage on climate issues and what opportunities are available,” said Dr. Diwa Oyetunde, FAO representative in Togo.

Consultations are also underway with private stakeholders to define five- and ten-year plans, particularly to help companies access climate financing.

On financing options, Oyetunde said existing global mechanisms already allow private firms to access funding, including loans.

“We are working with the Ministry of Commerce and the employers' federation to support companies in sectors such as agriculture, livestock, fishing and forestry, factoring in the costs of climate action. Ultimately, this should create jobs, improve sanitation and benefit the population,” she said.

For authorities and partners, the immediate priority is to strengthen the resilience of productive sectors and support job creation in the green economy.

Over the longer term, these guidelines are intended to help develop a national climate investment market and further integrate Togolese companies into sustainable value chains.

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A project combining organic farming and renewable energy was launched on Monday, March 16, 2026, in Kpalimé, in the Kloto 1 commune.

The initiative, titled “EcoFemmes: Organic Agriculture and Green Energy,” aims to strengthen the economic position of 130 rural women. It is backed by more than 52 million CFA Francs  in funding from the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF) over 36 months.

The project will operate across two sites in Volové and Nyivé Wodomé, covering more than three hectares. It provides secured farmland to support organic farming and boost yields.

“We have secured the land so that the women can produce with peace of mind. This is a crucial step for their empowerment,” said Essi Mansan Séna Chakpla, coordinator of NGO AIL, which is overseeing implementation.

The initiative also includes an energy component, with biodigesters to produce biogas. Beneficiaries will be trained to produce biofertilizers, bioprotectants and biogas, as well as in sustainable farming techniques, she said.

Beyond production, participants will receive training in product processing, financial management, entrepreneurship and digital marketing, to improve market access and increase the value of local output.

Ten volunteers will also be trained to build biodigesters, helping to expand the technology in rural communities. The approach is expected to reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal while lowering emissions linked to traditional energy use.

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