Togo First
Togo Advances Creation Of National Land Agency
Togo is moving to establish a National Land Agency (ANDF), a reform under the Land and Domain Code adopted in 2018 but yet to be implemented.
The project has been relaunched with $150 million in financing from the World Bank. The funding will support a broader structural reform program aimed at boosting private investment and job creation.
According to Togolese authorities and the World Bank, the future agency will be responsible for coordinating land policy and speeding up the issuance of land documents. The reform is intended to strengthen land tenure security, reduce disputes, and improve access to productive land, particularly for farmers and investors.
Under the Land and Domain Code, the ANDF is expected to play a central role in implementing national land policy. The agency would operate as a public institution with financial autonomy, overseeing the regulation, coordination, and modernization of land management nationwide.
Its creation has been pending for more than five years, amid complex administrative procedures and the gradual rollout of digital land and cadastral systems in the country.
In preparation, Togo has launched several initiatives to modernize the cadastre in recent years. These include the creation of a single land service desk, a nationwide geo-referencing campaign for legacy land titles, and the introduction of a unique plot identification number.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo Nears Access To China’s Soybean Market
Togolese soybeans could soon gain access to the Chinese market. China’s ambassador to Togo, Wang Min, said earlier this month that the approval process was nearing completion, signaling that exports could begin once the final steps are cleared.
Soybeans already play a strategic role in Togo’s agricultural economy. The country is among the leading exporters of organic soybeans to the European Union, a position supported by better-organized value chains and the gradual tightening of quality standards across the sector.
Formal access to the Chinese market would open additional growth opportunities for the industry. By diversifying export destinations, it could encourage new investment, strengthen demand, and support the development of local processing capacity.
China’s interest in expanding its network of agricultural suppliers reflects its heavy dependence on imports. The country is the world’s largest soybean buyer, accounting for between 60% and 70% of globally traded volumes, according to estimates by S&P. Demand is driven by the rapid expansion of its agri-food industry and livestock sector.
The announcement follows a broader strengthening of ties between Beijing and Lomé. In 2024, the two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing, where President Xi Jinping and Togolese Council President Faure Gnassingbé made the joint announcement.
That momentum translated into a sharp rise in trade in 2025. Between January and September, bilateral trade reached $4 billion, an increase of 56.4%. Togolese exports to China rose fivefold over the period, supported by Beijing’s zero-tariff policy on 100% of eligible African products.
No timetable has been announced for the completion of the soybean access protocol, but Chinese authorities say the final approval phase is underway.
Lomé International Fair 2025 Sees Record Turnout, Stronger B2B Activity
The 20th Lomé International Fair in Togo closed on Friday with record attendance, according to preliminary data. The event drew 803,000 visitors over 16 days, up from 706,000 in 2024.
The fair, held from Nov. 28 to Dec. 13 at the CETEF Togo 2000 site, featured 1,150 exhibitors from 26 countries, compared with 1,300 exhibitors from 24 countries last year.
While the number of exhibitors declined, international participation broadened and business-to-business activity increased, the Togo Center for Exhibitions and Fairs said.
In the B2B segment, 297 companies took part in 827 business meetings, resulting in 240 commercial pledges. The fair’s organisers noted growing interest from businesses in the platform beyond its public retail dimension.
The number of partners and sponsors rose to 45 from 36 in 2024, which the centre said reflected stronger private sector engagement.
CETEF said the 21st edition will be held between late November and early December 2026.
R.E.D.
Togo: World Bank Approve $150M to Support Private Investment, Job Creation
The World Bank Group has approved $150 million in financing for Togo to boost private investment and job creation. The funding from the International Development Association is equivalent to about 84 billion CFA francs.
The support marks the first phase of a three-year programmatic series aimed at easing structural constraints on the country’s economic transformation through a set of reforms, a statement from Washington said.
The reforms prioritize improving agricultural productivity, notably by securing land tenure and expanding smallholder farmers’ access to finance.
The program also includes measures to reduce infrastructure deficits in energy, digital connectivity and logistics, which are seen as major impediments to private sector activity.
On economic attractiveness, the focus will be on strengthening the foreign direct investment framework and mobilizing more private capital, the statement said.
Full implementation of the program could mobilize up to $800 million in additional private investment and improve employment conditions for nearly 73,000 people over five years, the World Bank said. The agriculture, land and energy sectors are identified as the main drivers of job creation.
"If fully implemented, this three-year program will mark a milestone for private sector development in Togo, with the potential to mobilize up to $800 million in additional private capital and improve the employment conditions of 73,000 people over five years," said Justin Beleoken Sanguen, the World Bank's interim resident representative for Togo. "Reforms in agriculture, land and energy will be the main drivers of job creation, while additional private capital is expected to come from renewable energy projects and increased FDI attractiveness, among other things."
Key measures include establishing a National Land and Domain Agency (ANDF) to accelerate land titling, revising the governance of the Togo Electric Power Company (CEET), and regulating broadband prices to boost digital competition.
Reforms to technical and vocational training complete the program, aiming to align skills with the needs of productive sectors.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togolese, Panamanian Towns Sign Five-Year Cooperation Agreement
The towns of Lacs 1 in Togo and Portobelo in Panama last week signed a five-year municipal cooperation agreement. The deal, covering 2025-2030, aims to expand cooperation in culture, tourism, education, trade and investment.
The agreement was signed in Aného, the administrative centre of Lacs 1, by Mayor Alexis Aquereburu for Togo. Jannelle Dadineth Gonzalez, president of Panama’s Association of Mayors and representing Portobelo, signed on behalf of Panama.
Under the agreement, Lacs 1 will receive support from Portobelo to strengthen local governance and develop projects in the targeted sectors. Cooperation will include securing funding and building partnerships in the Americas and Europe.
Lacs 1 will, in turn, identify partnerships in Togo and across Africa to support project implementation for Portobelo. On the cultural front, the agreement is viewed as a key strategic tool for the Panamanian municipality.
“Portobelo has a very strong African heritage, and I believe this agreement will help strengthen that sense of identity,” Gonzalez said.
For Lacs 1, the deal marks a further step in its international outreach strategy and efforts to promote its historical heritage. Aného was once Togo’s capital.
Esaïe Edoh
UNICEF, WFP and Korea Launch Child Support Programme in Northern Togo
A joint U.N.-Korean initiative to improve essential services for children in northern Togo began operations last week. The programme is funded with 8.3 billion CFA francs and is being implemented by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The project, which will run until 2029, targets children aged 0 to 18 in the Kara and Savanes regions, including displaced children and those in host communities. The areas have been affected by insecurity linked to the spillover of conflict from the Sahel.
The programme aims to strengthen social cohesion to ensure equitable access to basic services for both displaced and host populations. Activities will focus on education, health, water, sanitation, hygiene and social protection.
Implementation will be coordinated by Togo’s Ministry of Health, with support from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Action. Health Minister Jean-Marie Koffi Tessi said the initiative would reinforce government efforts to protect vulnerable groups and expand access to healthcare, education and basic social services.
Operations will target three age groups: children aged 0 to 5, 6 to 12 and 13 to 18, with tailored interventions for each group.
The programme complements other initiatives already under way in northern Togo. The Savanes region continues to face security threats linked to the presence of armed groups.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo, Benin Reopen Nangbeto Hydro Dam After CFA25.5B Upgrade
The Nangbeto hydroelectric dam, which supplies electricity to Togo and Benin, was officially inaugurated last week following a full rehabilitation costing 25.5 billion CFA francs (39 million euros).
The ceremony was attended by Togo’s junior energy minister, Robert Eklo, and the director-general of the Benin Electricity Community (CEB), Kamirou Chabi Sika.
The rehabilitation, which began in 2019, was financed by Germany through development bank KfW. It included the design, supply, installation and commissioning of upgraded and new equipment, notably turbines, alternators, power transformers, spillway gates, the tailrace and the spillway.
Mechanical and electrical installations were also modernized, along with high-voltage protection systems, lifting equipment, control systems and water treatment and drinking water facilities.
Officials said the upgrade would strengthen the reliability of electricity supply in both countries.
“The rehabilitation of Nangbeto marks a major step in securing our shared energy production,” Sika said, adding that the upgraded facility would improve performance, resilience and availability to meet rising demand.
Eklo described the dam as a symbol of bilateral cooperation and a key driver of energy stability. “This rehabilitation strengthens our national capacity and supports our ambition of universal access to electricity,” he said.
With an installed capacity of 65 megawatts, Nangbeto has been one of the main hydroelectric plants supplying Togo and Benin for nearly four decades. The rehabilitation comes as Togo pursues several initiatives aimed at achieving universal electricity access by 2030.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo Begins Distribution of 3,900 Home Solar Kits
Togo has launched a solar electrification programme to distribute 3,900 home kits, starting in the village of Komsadè in Sotouboua prefecture. The equipment is being supplied under China’s Africa Solar Belt project, which supports the energy transition and efforts to combat climate change.
The photovoltaic kits will provide rural households with reliable off-grid electricity, powering lighting and small electronic devices such as mobile phones, radios, televisions and refrigerators.
Government officials say the programme will bring electricity to more than 20,000 people living in areas not yet connected to the national grid. It forms part of a broader strategy to diversify Togo’s energy mix and promote low-carbon development.
Ahead of the rollout, Chinese experts trained Togolese technicians to install the systems. The energy ministry said the training was aimed at ensuring proper installation and long-term maintenance support for users.
The initiative is expected to strengthen decentralized electrification, particularly in remote areas, and move the country closer to its goal of universal electricity access by 2030.
Esaïe Edoh
Tône 1 Commune Lays Groundwork for Decade-Long Waste Management Plan
The Tône 1 commune in Togo’s Savanes region is set to approve a local waste management and sanitation policy. Preparations began on Wednesday in Dapaong, about 600 kilometres north of the capital, Lomé.
Covering the period from 2026 to 2036, the policy aims to achieve a 70% municipal waste collection rate. It also sets a target of recycling more than 60% of plastic and organic waste and building 12,000 latrines designed for safe emptying, with the goal of serving 81% of the population. The approach will span the full sanitation cycle, from household waste collection to final treatment.
The policy is being developed under the Waste Management and Decentralization Project, funded by the European Union. It is intended to consolidate and sustain investments made under Togo’s water and sanitation programmes, with the aim of delivering long-term improvements in sanitation services for residents.
Local authorities said the initiative is timely, noting that waste management remains a major public health, environmental and economic challenge that requires tailored and sustainable solutions. The launch in Tône 1 comes weeks after a similar initiative was rolled out in the Tchaoudjo 1 commune.
The EU-funded project, with a budget of 4.2 million euros (around 2.7 billion CFA Franc), will be implemented in five communes with technical support from Expertise France. It targets a combined population of more than 750,000 people in Kozah 1, Zio 1, Ogou 1, Tchaoudjo 1 and Tône 1.
Esaïe Edoh
France, Togo Launch CFA620M Local Governance Project
Togo and France have launched a CFA 620 million cooperation programme to strengthen local governance between 2025 and 2027.
The project aims to deepen decentralisation by establishing a coordinated governance framework linking central government and local authorities. It comes after Togo’s 2024 regional elections and ahead of municipal polls scheduled for 2025.
The initiative builds on progress made under the Support Programme for the Decentralisation Process in Togo, which ran from 2022 to 2024.
The programme has three main components. The first focuses on enhancing the capacity of the National Agency for the Training of Local Authorities, which is responsible for implementing the national training plan. The second supports Togo’s national association of municipalities in promoting decentralised cooperation and exchanges among local governments. The third targets the expansion of the responsibilities of regions and governorates under the country’s regionalisation process.
The project will involve technical exchanges with French and African partners, as well as study visits. Three volunteers, including a Franco-Togolese pair, will support the relevant public institutions.
It also includes a partnership between Togo’s territorial training agency and France’s National Centre for Local Public Service, reinforcing institutional cooperation between Lomé and Paris.
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