The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) wants to help Togolese authorities integrate ICTs into the country's education system faster. The organization, in line with this ambition, organized this week a two-day training workshop in Lomé, the Togolese capital.

The workshop, which closed on Wednesday, aimed to teach teachers and educational managers how to master technological tools, create interactive courses, and exploit online educational resources.

Some of the topics covered during the training workshop include "Introduction to educational technologies," "Technology education in teaching and learning," "Technological tools and Resources for education," "Instructional design and content creation," "Adaptation to specific needs and diversity," as well as "Management and administration of administrative technologies."

According to Kouma Bamissa, National Education Inspector, ICT adoption will help improve the quality of education in Togo.

Founded in 1979, ICESCO has 60 member countries. The organization promotes education, science, and intercultural dialogue, in line with Islamic values of fraternity and solidarity between nations. Togo has been a member of this organization since 2002.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo has joined the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). Its adhesion was unanimously approved by the institution's 72 members, per Resolution 1b of the CGF General Assembly program. 

"I am really pleased to be here today on behalf of my country, Togo, which is joining the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). Thank you all for accepting our bid to join the CGF", said Deladem Akpaki, President of the Togolese National Olympic Committee (CNO-TOGO), at the podium of this General Assembly.

Akpaki added that Togo “will not only respect the CGF but also promote and share the organization's core values, Humanity - Equality - Destiny in Togo".

A few months ago, Togo took part in the Commonwealth Youth Ministers' meeting. The West African nation is also working on its integration into the organization's unique Blue Charter platform, to benefit from the advantages offered by this platform in the maritime sector.

Togo joined the Commonwealth in June 2022.  

Esaïe Edoh

Togo launched the Sahel Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend Project (SWEDD+) on November 14. The World Bank-backed initiative was officially kicked off at the University of Lomé, by the minister of women empowerment and literacy, Adjovi Lolonyo Anakoma-Apedoh. 

"SWEDD Togo aims to improve girls' and women's access to learning, economic opportunities, and the use of health services, as well as to strengthen Togo's institutional capacity for gender equality," said the minister, as he launched the project.

Approved by the World Bank's Board of Directors on September 29, 2023, the program will require CFA37.5 billion. It targets over 105,000 Togolese girls and young women as direct beneficiaries, through interventions at the community level. Emphasis will be placed on women's economic empowerment and keeping girls in school.

Present at the launch, the World Bank’s Director of Operations for Togo, Marie-Chantal Uwanyiligira, declared: "The project we are launching today aims to reinforce the government's efforts to empower women and girls. It is a regional project that is already active in several countries in West and Central Africa".

This will include improving access to learning, economic opportunities, and health services for adolescent girls and young women. SWEDD+ also aims to strengthen the regional institutional environment for gender equality.

Togo, it is worth noting, has been working to promote equal access for women to opportunities, particularly in education, entrepreneurship, and positions of responsibility, despite significant challenges. According to a report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the proportion of women in managerial positions in Togo is 70%.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo showcases its government roadmap and related projects at the 3rd Intra African Trade Fair (IATF 2023) in Cairo, Egypt. Started on November 9, the fair ends today, November 15. 

The Togolese delegation regrouped about 10 people, businessmen, some officials, and staff of the Centre for Fairs and Exhibitions (CETEF) of Togo. 

Organized by Afreximbank, the IATF aims to develop and intensify trade between African countries. It is the fruit of the ratification of the agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area (Zlecaf) signed in Kigali in March 2015.

This year, it brought together 1,600 exhibitors from 57 countries, as well as political and economic decision-makers. 

Togo attended the previous editions in 2018 and 2021. 

Esaïe Edoh

The Chamber of Trade and Industry of Togo (CCI-Togo) set up regional consular electoral commissions (CECR) yesterday, November 14. The new bodies will oversee member registration in the framework of the Chamber’s coming elections.

"Today's installation and training ceremony is a very important step that allows CECR members to take up their duties and measure the importance of the electoral process concerning the Electoral Support Agents per prefecture, among others.", said Dintangue Kominte, President of the Consular Electoral Commission.

On the same occasion, the nine members of the Greater Lomé regional consular chamber were introduced to the public. The ceremony also marked the start of training for electoral support agents for Greater Lomé.

Key figures present at the ceremony included Karine Adotevi Edoh, Managing Director, CCI-Togo, and Tagba Ataféyinam Tchalim, General Secretary of the Greater Lomé District.

According to Tchalim, setting up the CECRs "marks the start of a crucial electoral process for the renewal of the governing bodies of the Togo Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”

The move is the latest development in the reform process initiated by the CCI-Togo several months ago. The forthcoming elections will see the installation of a new bureau and new bodies to replace the current interim team, which has been in place for two years.

Togo and the World Bank are working on a major project to transform and modernize the country’s agricultural industry. Filly Sissoko, resident representative of the Bank, revealed the initiative on November 13, in the Avé prefecture (around 50 km northwest of Lomé, the capital). 

Sissoko revealed that the project “is not a short term, but mid or long term project, going from five to 10 years, with important financing”. And according to the Institution he represents, it will cover the 2024-2030 period and cost $100 million. 

The project should focus on water management, mechanization of farming operations, proven technologies, quality inputs, and processing of agricultural products.

Filly Sissoko was in Avé with Marie-Chantal Uwanyiligira, World Bank Operations Director for Togo. The two were visiting the Planned Agricultural Development Zone of Agnron (ZAAP) in the prefecture. This is a government project backed by the World Bank.

On the occasion, Uwanyiligira said the Bretton Woods institution wants to bring the project to scale, ultimately helping agriculture “become a productive and contributing sector”. 

The ZAAP of Agnron covers several hectares and is occupied by 80 farmers–60 women and 20 men. From 2020 to now, the project helped increase the yields of its beneficiaries from 600 kg/ha to 3 t/ha.

UK Holding officially started operations in Togo a week ago, on November 8. The infrastructure, trade, and intermediation group will operate across five areas in the country. 

The firm’s CEO, Innocent Kagbara, said it would offer capital trading services to investors in infrastructure construction,  as well as supply equipment for hotels, hospitals and leisure centers. Kagbara, who is also a Togolese deputy, added that the group would also support companies with sales of close to €5 billion.

UK Holding will also operate in logistics and maritime transportation and plans investments in housing. The group has subsidiaries in agriculture, husbandry, construction, land development, and investment. 

The Lomé-based group aims to become an African giant in financial intermediation by 2030. "We want to capture capital to come and carry out structuring projects in our country ", said Innocent Kagbara, forecasting the creation of several direct and indirect jobs.

Esaïe Edoh

The Ministry of tourism and culture of Togo launched last week a project to preserve and promote the country’s endogenous dances, which are on the verge of extinction. The UNESCO-funded project will be steered by Association Culture-Développement (CULT-DEV). 

The project will take place in several phases, including the identification, preservation, valorization, and promotion of dances across the various communities covered. Dances identified will be classified by category, with descriptions of their performance techniques, music, rhythms and context. Their social, spiritual, symbolic and secular roles within the various communities will also be highlighted.

According to the Ministry of Culture, the project results from the general inventory of intangible cultural heritage carried out in 2011, which recorded the disappearance of 75 dances. Earlier, surveys carried out in 1982 deplored the disappearance of 132 dances and associated practices.

For this project, around 40 agents will be trained and deployed in the field for data collection, monitoring and evaluation, and data processing before the directories are drawn up.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo’s Tax Authority, the OTR, kicked off the first edition of the New Business Week on November 13. Set to end on November 17, the event takes place in Lomé, the capital. 

Targeting especially businesses that officially registered this year, the New Business Week aims to help these companies better understand their rights and obligations as taxpayers.

For its part, the OTR’s goal through the event is to make the new businesses more tax-compliant and bolster cooperation between the OTR and the private sector. "By providing detailed information and practical advice, the OTR aims to strengthen tax compliance while facilitating the development and growth of these emerging businesses," the OTR stated.

Over the week, participants will take part in interactive workshops, informative seminars, and Q&A sessions led by tax experts. Thus, the entrepreneurs will obtain precise answers to their concerns, while expanding their business network.

In the first semester of this year, nearly 8,300 new businesses were registered at the Centre for Business Formalities (CFE), and 78% of these businesses were set up by men and 27% by women only.