Lomé hosts the 21st Seminar of the Francophone Network of Telecommunications Regulation (FRATEL). The two-day event opened today, May 21. Organized by the local telecom watchdog, the ARCEP, the forum brings together regulators from Francophone African countries. For this edition, the theme is "Data Economy and Digital Services: What Technical and Economic Regulatory Challenges".

During the event, participants will explore the regulatory and technical challenges posed by the data economy and digital services. The focus will be on the future of networks and regulation, as well as emerging markets for data and mobile payments.

Guests include representatives from international organizations, regulatory institutions, universities, and private enterprises, all gathered to share their expertise and perspectives on these issues.

The FRATEL was founded in 2003 in Bamako, Mali.

To tackle the significant housing shortage in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), a major initiative was launched in Lomé last week. Known as the "Housing Loan Guarantee" (HLG), the initiative aims to help real estate developers secure loans more easily. The HLG was launched by the African Solidarity Fund (ASF) and the Regional Housing Refinancing Fund of WAEMU (RHRF-WAEMU). The Guarantee benefits from a solid 'investment grade' rating, enhancing its credibility.

"The housing loan guarantee is designed to share credit risks and reduce the net cost of risk while decreasing the consumption of banks' funds. It thus makes housing finance more accessible and sustainable, with positive impacts on economic stability and social development in our region," stated Yedau Ogoundele, CEO of RHRF-WAEMU.

Concretely, the HLG allows WAEMU lenders to obtain guarantees of up to CFA5 billion per entity, with an 80% coverage in case of default. "By activating this 'silent' guarantee, we cover 80% of the risk of each defaulted loan. We will intervene as a first demand for 50%, with institutions having three years to recover the funds before we settle the rest," said Abdourahmane Diallo, CEO of ASF.

"This guarantee offers prospective homeowners more favorable loan conditions and allows banks to optimize their equity while increasing their lending capacity," added Diallo.

With the housing deficit in WAEMU currently at 3.5 million units and an annual need for 251,000 new units to keep up with demographic growth and urbanization, the launch of the HLG addresses a critical need in the region. "To meet these structural challenges, RHRF-WAEMU had to react by offering innovative and adapted solutions," emphasized Ogoundele.

The ASF and RHRF-WAEMU plan to conduct a roadshow across the WAEMU’s eight countries. The roadshow aims to tailor the Guarantee to the needs of WAEMU States.  "We invite all interested banks and DFS to join us in developing their housing loan portfolios. This is an evolving process where we will adapt our offer based on the feedback received," concluded Ogoundele.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

Last week, President Faure Gnassingbé visited three Planned Agricultural Development Zones (ZAAP) in Haho, Moyen-mono, and Amou prefectures. These are the ZAAPs of Somone Copé, Gamé, and Ogbatanawlou.

During the visit, Gnassingbé held a Grand Oral, gathering feedback from ZAAP operators on issues they face. He also took stock of their recommendations to improve agricultural activities. The leader on the occasion reiterated his commitment to supporting farmers, aiming for food self-sufficiency through the ZAAP.

"We must produce what we consume, ensure decent living conditions, and improve the livelihoods of producers," Faure Gnassingbé declared. He then encouraged producers to “build on technical support and mentoring services for long-term empowerment and sustainability”.

The ZAAP of Somone Copé spans 100 hectares and focuses on corn and soybean farming. Sixty (60) farmers, including 32 women, work at the zone. The Gamé and Ogbatanawlou ZAAPs focus both on corn farming. They span 64 and 100 hectares respectively, with 55 and 74 farmers, including 35 and 27 women. 

This visit follows the inspection of two ZAAPs in Yoto prefecture in March. It falls under ongoing talks between President Gnassingbé and local agricultural producers.

Esaïe Edoh

Barbados' Minister of Economy and Investment, Chad Blackman, visited Lomé on May 16, 2024, to foster bilateral cooperation in promising sectors. This aligns with Barbados' policy of economic openness in Africa.

During the visit, Blackman talked with Togo's Foreign Affairs Minister, Robert Dussey. They discussed bilateral and international matters of mutual interest. 

Their meeting paved the way for establishing a legal framework to regulate emerging relations between the two countries. A memorandum of understanding on political consultations between their foreign ministries should be signed soon.

To bolster trade with Barbados, Togo will remove the entry visa requirement for Barbadian citizens. The Togolese diplomacy announced the move during Blackman’s visit.

Barbados is an independent Caribbean state and a member of the Commonwealth.

The Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS) and Ecoles Normales de Formation des Professeurs d'École (ENFPE) could soon enter a significant partnership. A technical meeting was recently held in Lomé in this framework. Help on May 14, the sitting was led by Ministers Dodzi Kokoroko and Ihou Wateba. 

Participants took several decisions like opening ENS and ENFPE in Niamtougou and Atakpamé to enhance training programs and resources.

The aim is for these institutions to collaborate, pooling resources to optimize training and pedagogical resources. This alliance could facilitate teacher exchanges, cross-training, resource sharing, and research projects, ultimately improving education quality in Togo.

The initiative aligns with an educational reform started in the country over a decade ago. The reform focuses on enhancing training and pedagogical resources to boost education and education standards. 

Launched two years ago in Togo, the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) shows "encouraging" results. Dindiogue Konlani, Director of Cabinet for the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, claimed so at the opening of the first synthesis meeting in Lomé on May 15, 2024.

The meeting convenes eight beneficiary countries and partners like ECOWAS, the World Bank, AGRHYMET, CORAF, and national coordinators from FSRP participating countries. 

Agriculture: Data and Recommendation

Under FSRP, over 80,000 agrometeorological bulletins have been disseminated, benefiting 122,000 individuals, including nearly 50,000 women, to guide farmers in managing climatic uncertainties.

Earlier this week, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé urged African countries to unite in promoting better cooking practices and energy improvements. Gnassingbé stressed the importance of public and private sector involvement, highlighting Africa's potential for significant greenhouse gas emission reductions through clean cooking. This was during the Clean Cooking Summit in Africa at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.

"I believe that progress will primarily come from government involvement in the future. Of course, the private sector will play a significant role in the success of clean cooking in Africa. The fact that Africa could represent about two-thirds of the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the transition to clean cooking opens up prospects for carbon credit-based solutions," he stated.

President Gnassingbé proposed four solutions to enhance meal preparation and cooking energy access in Africa. He advocated for gas and electric cooking, improved stoves, and carbon credit-related projects to reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal. He also called for actions like subsidizing clean cooking kits, ensuring price stability for liquefied gas, supporting vulnerable households, managing energy transition, and regulating carbon credit initiatives.

The Clean Cooking Summit, organized by the African Development Bank and the International Energy Agency, aims to promote environmentally friendly cooking methods in Africa. President Gnassingbé met with President Macron and other African leaders during his visit. The leaders discussed summit recommendations.

The Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA) looks for ways to enhance container transfers from Lomé, Togo, to neighboring landlocked countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. A group of directors general from these countries' shippers' councils was at the PIA. The mission aims to bolster cooperation between the various parties, focusing on logistical challenges and innovative solutions proposed by the PIA.

Discussions centered on improving transportation efficiency, with the delegation touring key PIA infrastructure like warehouses, the Adétikopé dry port, and a textile factory. 

Togo has recently ramped up efforts to get closer to Sahelian countries, ensuring efficient goods transportation from its port. A mission from Niger was recently in Lomé in this framework.

The Alliance of Sahelian States (Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali) drive over 90% of transit traffic through the port of Lomé, highlighting their strategic importance in Togo's goal to become a sub-regional logistics hub.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo just launched a new fundraising round on the WAMU public securities market. The treasury simultaneously issued Treasury Assimilable Bonds (OAT) and Treasury Assimilable Bills (BAT). The operation closes on May 24.

Lomé seeks CF15 billion through the BATs. The securities mature over 182 days, have multiple interest rates, and a face value of CFA1 million. The OATs mature over three and five years, have a face value of CFA10,000, and respective interest rates of 6.15% and 6.40% per annum. The country seeks 20 billion through these securities.

Proceeds of the operation will finance Togo's balanced CFA2,179 billion budget for 2024.

Esaïe Edoh