Making insurance accessible to low-income households and informal workers is the main focus of the 11th Regional Conference on Inclusive Insurance, which opened in Lomé on Wednesday.

The conference, running through Friday, brings together officials, insurers, banking representatives and technology experts from across Africa. It aims to identify practical solutions to develop products suited to low-income groups, who are often excluded from conventional social protection systems.

For insurers, the event offers an opportunity to build more resilient systems better adapted to African conditions, amid health crises, persistent insecurity and recurring economic shocks. The aim is to make insurance both accessible and affordable, particularly for people in rural areas and vulnerable communities.

Following the Lomé conference, insurers are expected to roll out new microinsurance products targeting low-income households. These are seen as a key tool with both social and economic benefits.

Inclusive insurance helps households cope with external shocks and supports financial inclusion by enabling access to services such as savings and credit, particularly through widely used mobile money platforms.

The conference also examined how inclusive insurance supports economic activity, especially in the informal and agricultural sectors, by strengthening resilience to risk.

The Lomé meeting is emerging as a key platform for expanding insurance coverage across all segments of the population. Togo has already moved in this direction, notably in the health sector, with the rollout of its Universal Health Insurance programme (AMU) since January 2024.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo has launched its National Clean Cooking Access Program, with the initiative officially introduced this week in Lomé by Robert Eklo, minister delegate in charge of energy and mineral resources.

The program builds on preparatory studies and aims to align with priorities outlined in the National Energy Pact (Mission 300), which targets raising access to clean cooking solutions to 80% by 2030.

“Our ambition is clear: to ensure that by 2030, clean cooking becomes a reality for as many people as possible,” the minister said at the launch workshop.

As part of the program, Togo is receiving support from the Global Enabling Environment Facility (GEEF). EED Advisory, mandated by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO, Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland), will assist the government, working closely with national institutions and sector stakeholders. The European Union will also support the studies through the ReCCAWA program.

Access to clean cooking remains low in Togo, with households heavily reliant on solid biomass fuels. The program aims to tackle economic, health, environmental and social challenges linked to this dependence.

In the energy sector, the initiative is expected to help diversify energy sources, modernize the energy mix and strengthen resilience to fluctuations in traditional resources.

Economically, the development of a local market for clean cooking solutions, including gas distribution, the production of improved stoves and maintenance services, could generate jobs and support entrepreneurship, particularly among youth and women.

Esaïe Edoh

Health officials in the Maritime region met in Tsévié through Thursday, March 26, 2026, to review 2025 performance and set priorities for the year ahead.

Initial data showed progress across several indicators. Notably, the performance of management committees improved, rising from 57.82% to 73.33%. The curative care utilization rate also increased to 60.18%, from 56.37% in 2024.

These gains are linked to initiatives such as mobile clinics and open days aimed at bringing services closer to communities. Other improvements include the availability of subsidized cesarean kits and better access to blood products.

However, challenges remain. The availability of essential medicines continues to decline, while shortages of primary-level health personnel are limiting service delivery. Unmet demand for blood products remains high at 39.37%, well above the national target of 13%.

The review aims to analyze key indicators, identify disparities between districts, and propose corrective measures. It will also produce a 2026 action plan based on an assessment of the regional health system’s strengths, weaknesses and constraints.

The Maritime region has 213 health facilities and more than 2,100 staff serving about 1.4 million people. Authorities called for stronger coordination to sustainably improve access to care.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Lomé hosted a regional meeting on the food and nutrition situation starting Wednesday, March 25, 2026. The gathering brought together stakeholders from the regional system for the Prevention and Management of Food Crises (PREGEC) to assess the 2025-2026 agricultural season and update data on food insecurity in the region.

According to the latest analyses, more than 41.7 million people currently require food assistance. Without appropriate measures, this figure could rise to 52.7 million during the lean season between June and August, officials warned.

The meetings in Lomé are expected to validate the final results of the agro-pastoral campaign and strengthen regional coordination. Discussions also aim to guide responses by governments and partners in a context marked by multiple challenges.

“The situation remains concerning overall, despite a slight improvement,” said Traoré Sy Martial, coordinator of the food and nutrition security support programme at the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS). He cited the impact of insecurity, population displacement and inflation on living conditions.

The region hosts nearly 9 million displaced people, increasing pressure on food systems and humanitarian assistance.

Discussions also focus on improving early warning systems and implementing appropriate responses. “We are meeting today to review the final situation […] and update the figures,” the official added.

The meetings are scheduled to conclude on Friday, March 27, 2026, with recommendations aimed at strengthening public policy and improving food crisis management in a region facing persistent vulnerability.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

The Union of Togolese Municipalities (FCT) and SO Coopération plan to support local authorities in Togo in developing partnerships.

The issue was discussed on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Lomé during a meeting between FCT President Koubonou Touni and SO Coopération Director Mathilde Reziau.

Several priority sectors have been identified under this decentralized cooperation framework, including waste management, water, sanitation and energy. Once these priorities are confirmed, SO Coopération intends to mobilize a broad network of stakeholders from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region—associations, local governments, training and research institutions, as well as private companies—to build partnerships with Togolese municipalities.

According to Mathilde Reziau, organizations in Nouvelle-Aquitaine already benefit from an information and support mechanism for implementing international cooperation projects across various sectors and countries, with a particularly strong focus on Togo.

Currently, only around 40 of Togo’s 117 municipalities have established decentralized cooperation partnerships, according to FCT data. Support from SO Coopération is expected to expand this network by facilitating new partnerships and strengthening existing ones. Discussions are already underway with several local authorities, particularly in the south of the country.

As part of its ongoing decentralization process, Togo sees decentralized cooperation as a key driver of local development. It is considered an effective tool for strengthening municipal capacity, accelerating development, and improving access to basic services.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo and Turkey have signed a framework agreement to strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation in education. The accord was signed Tuesday in Lomé by Togolese Education Minister Mama Omorou and Turkish Ambassador to Togo Muteber Kılıç. It aims to strengthen bilateral relations through educational cooperation based on principles of equality and reciprocity, officials said.

The agreement includes partnerships involving the exchange of expertise, teachers and students, as well as joint research into curricula, teaching materials and educational technologies. It covers technical education, vocational training and special education.

Both countries also committed to promoting each country’s cultural values. This will be achieved through the integration of content on each nation’s history, geography and culture into educational programs, as well as by encouraging the learning of their official languages.

The accord sets up an information-sharing mechanism to facilitate the recognition of primary and secondary school diplomas. Under this framework, Turkey plans to offer scholarships to Togolese students covering undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs, as well as specific programs including Anadolu Imam-Hatip international high schools.

The partnership also allows for the establishment of educational institutions in both countries. It provides support for the activities of the Maarif Foundation of Türkiye in Togo, with Togolese authorities committing to streamline the related administrative procedures.

Through this partnership, Lomé and Ankara aim to strengthen the long-term capacity of their education systems and promote academic mobility between their citizens. The agreement also builds on announcements made in October 2021 during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Lomé.

Esaïe Edoh

Lomé will host the 17th Conference of Presidents of Assemblies and Sections of the Africa Region of La Francophonie from April 7 to 9. National Assembly Speaker Komi Sélom Klassou announced this on Monday at the closing of the legislature’s first special session of the year.

The conference will bring together parliamentary delegations from about 20 countries. As in past meetings, the Lomé gathering will provide a platform for discussion on inter-parliamentary cooperation, Francophone affairs and the political situation in Africa, with a particular focus on West Africa.

Several topics linked to the objectives of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) will be on the agenda, including the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and human rights within the Francophone world. Delegates will also examine the current global political situation.

Participants will also review the implementation of declarations and resolutions adopted at Francophonie summits by heads of state and government.

Klassou said Lomé’s selection reflects Togo’s active role in inter-parliamentary cooperation. “It is an opportunity to strengthen ties between peoples,” he said.

Togo's National Financial Information Processing Unit (CENTIF-Togo) began a three-day workshop on Tuesday, bringing together magistrates, judicial police officers and security forces to strengthen efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

The meeting in Sokodé was organized with the National Coordinating Committee on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CONAC).

"We must work together to effectively prevent, detect and sanction any terrorist financing offence," CENTIF President Aquitème Tchaa Bignossi said, stressing the need for a coordinated approach.

Participants will focus on a balanced, risk-based approach that combines transparency with protecting civic space. The workshop will also cover new provisions introduced by a law adopted in early March 2026, which strengthens the ability of Togolese authorities to prevent and prosecute such offences.

Over the three days, participants will exchange best practices, examine case studies and share experiences to improve coordination between judicial and security agencies.

Esaïe Edoh