Togo First
Togo Accounts for 16.2% of WAEMU Cross-Border Lending to Top Firms
Togolese credit institutions accounted for 16.2% of cross-border financing extended to the 400 largest corporate borrowers in the West African Monetary Union (WAMU) at the end of September 2025, according to data from the BCEAO, the regional central bank.
Togo ranks among the leading contributors, behind Burkina Faso at 33.1%, Benin at 21.0%, and Niger at 17.2%. These countries share a similar trade configuration, shaped by import flows moving from the coast, notably Togo and Benin, toward inland markets, particularly the AES countries of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, or toward neighboring Nigeria, which is not a member of WAMU.
Cross-border bank lending to large companies has been increasing across the union. At the end of September 2025, outstanding cross-border loans totaled 405.6 billion CFA francs, representing 4.1% of total large exposures. This compares with 400.9 billion CFA francs three months earlier and 295.1 billion CFA francs a year earlier.
The rise highlights the active and growing role of several national banking systems, including that of Togo, in financing international economic activity within the sub-region.
At the same time, credit concentration remains a concern. In Togo, the 50 largest companies account for 38.1% of bank lending to the economy, according to central bank data. While cross-border financing supports the operations of large groups and regional trade, it also raises the issue of how to balance support for major players with access to credit for SMEs, which remain largely dependent on domestic markets.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
ECOWAS Urges Grid Interconnection and Regulatory Alignment for Energy Transition
ECOWAS Parliament Speaker Memounatou Ibrahima outlined West Africa’s priorities on electricity access and the energy transition at the 16th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 10-12.
Speaking at IRENA’s Legislators and Regulators Forum, the Togolese official pointed to a regional mismatch between strong renewable potential and limited electricity access, with nearly 43% of the population still without power.
Ibrahima said closing the gap would require deeper regional cooperation, including interconnecting national grids through the West African Power Pool, harmonising regulatory frameworks and adopting a regional renewable energy policy.
The goal is to raise renewables to 48% of the region’s energy mix by 2030, strengthening energy security and improving investor appeal.
She also noted the ECOWAS Parliament’s role in monitoring energy policies, reviewing implementation and reflecting citizens’ concerns.
Separately, Lomé hosted a two-day meeting of the Women in Energy Network-Africa focused on tackling gender inequality in the energy sector under the theme “Addressing Gender Inequalities in Energy: Partnerships for Sustainability.”
R.E.D
Togo Launches Study to Map Agroecological Practices in Plateaux-Ouest
Togo’s National Institute of Agricultural Training (INFA) in Tove and the NGO Young Volunteers for the Environment (JVE-Togo) have begun a study aimed at improving the sustainability of farming systems in the Plateaux-Ouest area.
The partners signed a scientific cooperation agreement on Jan. 14 in Tove, near Kpalime.
The study will focus on four prefectures, Danyi, Kpele, Kloto and Agou, and will involve a sample of 200 farmers and institutional stakeholders. It aims to map existing agroecological practices, identify technical and organisational challenges, and propose practical measures tailored to local conditions as climate patterns become more variable.
Project officials said the work will follow a participatory approach, involving farmers, extension officers and community organisations in data collection and analysis to encourage local uptake of the findings and support implementation on the ground.
INFA will develop the research methodology, analyse the data and draft the final report, while JVE will organise a workshop to validate the findings with local stakeholders. The work is expected to be completed by the end of March 2026.
The study aims to generate evidence to guide local policies supporting the shift to agroecological farming and strengthen farm resilience in Plateaux-Ouest.
The Plateaux region is widely regarded as Togo’s breadbasket, producing major food and cash crops including rice, soybeans, maize, chilli peppers, coffee and cocoa.
R.E.D
Togolese Early-Stage Projects Eligible for EU Global Gateway Grants of Up to €2 mln
Infrastructure developers in Togo with early-stage projects are invited to apply for EU funding under the Global Gateway Early-Stage Investment Mechanism.
The programme supports early-stage infrastructure projects in EU partner countries, including Togo, and is part of the bloc’s Global Gateway strategy to boost sustainable long-term investment in partner economies.
Priority sectors include transport, artificial intelligence, energy and urban development. Successful applicants can receive grants of 500,000 to 2 million euros, with EU co-financing of up to 90%. Projects can run for 12 to 36 months.
The mechanism targets projects still in the planning stage and aims to help turn promising ideas into bankable projects. The non-repayable funding can cover feasibility studies, pilot projects and other preparatory work often needed to attract later public or private investment.
EU-based companies, including startups, SMEs and large groups, are eligible. Consortia, public-sector bodies, universities and research institutes can also apply, particularly for AI-related projects. Partnerships with Togolese public authorities are encouraged. Applications close on March 16, 2026.
Sambiani Yobe Takes Over As Head Of Togo Bar Association
The Togo Bar Association has elected Sambiani Yobe as its new president. He took office late last week, succeeding Claude Folly Adama, whose term ended. Yobe is the 15th president in the Bar’s history.
He will lead the association for the next three years, with a mandate to protect the profession’s interests and uphold the rule of law. He will be supported by 12 advisers.
The inauguration was held under the theme “The defence of the defence” and focused on the role of lawyers in strengthening the rule of law.
Justice Minister Pacome Adjourouvi said defending the right to counsel was “not a slogan” but a commitment to fair trials. “No one can be judged fairly if their defence is weakened, hindered or treated with suspicion,” he said.
He added that “the defence is not an obstacle to the truth, it is a path to it,” and described legal representation as a fundamental right for all, regardless of status, wealth or political views.
Yobe takes office as Togo pursues reforms aimed at modernising its justice system and improving its efficiency, credibility and accessibility.
Togo Concludes AFRISTAT Presidency, Marks 12 Billion CFA Budget Approval
Togo ended its term as rotating chair of the Council of Ministers of the Economic and Statistical Observatory for Sub-Saharan Africa (AFRISTAT) on Dec. 31, 2025, and Equatorial Guinea took over on Jan. 1, 2026.
Sandra Ablamba Johnson, minister and secretary-general of the presidency of the Council, presented a report on Togo’s tenure on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. After talks with AFRISTAT Director General Paul-Henri Nguema Meye, she said major progress was made in 2024-2025, including the renewal of the institution’s funding mechanism, which lapsed in 2025, and the approval of AFRISTAT’s vision and strategic priorities for 2026-2035.
Other achievements included training programmes and progress on rebasing national accounts. The strategic framework is backed by a 12 billion CFA franc budget to support the development of economic, social and environmental statistics in AFRISTAT’s 22 member states.
Togo said it completed 70% of planned activities over the 2024-2025 period, despite challenging conditions, including difficulties securing resources from member states and development partners.
As the outgoing chair, Togo said it remains available to support AFRISTAT during the handover to Equatorial Guinea, which will chair the Council in 2026-2027.
AFRISTAT was created to coordinate statistical efforts and mobilize resources to support national and regional statistical systems, and plays a key role in harmonizing data.
Esaïe Edoh
CCI-Togo Plans Agri-Tech Complex To Modernise Farming
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Togo (CCI-Togo) plans to set up an agri-tech complex focused on smart farming training in 2026, it said in the December 2025 issue of its quarterly magazine, Entrepreneurs Mag.
The centre will be located in Agbélouvé in the Maritime region and is one of the chamber’s flagship projects for 2026. CCI-Togo said the site will serve as both a training centre and an innovation lab aimed at modernising the agricultural sector.
The complex is expected to offer young agri-entrepreneurs a facility for pilot projects, applied research and networking with investors and partners. It will also run specialised courses for farmers, covering modern and sustainable techniques such as precision agriculture, smart irrigation and drone use.
“The objective is to boost productivity, encourage sustainable practices and build more resilient agriculture in the face of climate challenges,” the chamber said. It expects the training to improve the use of digital tools and agricultural data, raise and stabilise yields, and cut post-harvest losses through better storage and logistics.
CCI-Togo said the project would support the modernisation of Togolese agriculture in line with government priorities and contribute to food security.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo Hosts WEN-Africa Conference on Gender Inequalities in Energy
The Women in Energy Network-Africa (WEN-Africa) is holding a meeting in Lomé this week focused on reducing gender inequalities in the energy sector. The event brings together institutional partners under the theme “Addressing Gender Inequalities in Energy: Partnerships for Sustainability.”
The conference, which ends on Wednesday, includes panel discussions led by partner institutions and energy sector representatives from several African countries. Speakers are expected to outline WEN-Africa’s mission and progress since its launch, and to share partner experiences.
Participants are also reviewing the benefits of joining the platform, existing best practices, and the impact of partnerships in narrowing gender gaps in the energy sector in sub-Saharan Africa.
Attendees include Kwawu Gaba, the World Bank’s energy sector manager, and Robert Koffi Messan Eklo, Togo’s minister delegate for energy and mineral resources.
Gaba said the platform aims to strengthen women’s participation in energy policy, planning and operations, build technical and leadership skills, and foster partnerships that support inclusive and sustainable energy development. He added that the initiative also seeks to help women and young people use energy access to develop economic activities, support education, improve health outcomes and drive innovation in their communities.
Eklo welcomed the Lomé meeting as a step toward greater equality in the sector. “By gathering here in Lomé, we are taking a collective step to ensure that Africa’s energy transition is not only clean and resilient, but also inclusive and gives women their full place,” he said.
Launched in February 2024, WEN-Africa is supported by the World Bank and aims to increase women’s participation and employment in Africa’s energy sector in partnership with international institutions.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo Trade Turnover Index Rises 2.8% in October 2025, Services Jump
Commercial activity in Togo rebounded in October 2025 after a decline the previous month. The trade turnover index rose 2.8% month-on-month after falling 1% in September, BCEAO data showed.
The rebound was driven mainly by retail trade, which added 3 percentage points to monthly growth. However, auto and motorcycle trade and repairs, wholesale trade and intermediation slightly offset gains. Turnover was up 3.5% from a year earlier, improving in September and pointing to a modest upward trend.
Non-financial market services also rose sharply in October, up 5.3% month-on-month after a 0.3% decline in September. Year-on-year growth reached 3.7%. This was below Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Niger, but above Senegal.
Financial services expanded more strongly, with turnover up 4.0% on the month and 15.4% year-on-year. The figures put Togo among the bloc’s stronger performers for the indicator, broadly in line with Senegal and Benin.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo Microfinance Deposits Rise 2.7% in Q2 2025, Lending Falls
Deposits at Togo’s microfinance institutions rose by 11.9 billion CFA francs in the quarter, up 2.7%, according to BCEAO data. Growth lagged Burkina Faso and Senegal but outpaced Benin and Niger.
Lending, however, slowed. Loans outstanding fell by 7 billion CFA francs, a 1.9% quarterly decline, as financing conditions tightened and lenders grew more cautious. Togo and Mali were the only countries in the bloc to record contractions, while Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Benin posted increases of 1.6% to 3.4%.
Caution has also been reinforced by worsening asset quality across the region. The gross non-performing loan ratio reached 10.9% at end-June 2025, well above the bloc’s 3% benchmark. Togo also has one institution under temporary administration, out of 10 in the Union.
Microfinance remains key to financial inclusion in Togo, supported by rising savings and a growing client base. But lending momentum and risk management will remain key areas to watch in the second half of the year.
The figures extend a trend seen since early 2025. Deposits had climbed to 436 billion CFA francs in the first quarter, while outstanding loans fell sharply. Between March and June, the contraction in lending eased to -1.9% from -5.2%, while deposits continued to rise.
Togo’s microfinance sector includes nearly 70 institutions that provide financing to households and small businesses. Across WAEMU, there are 527 microfinance institutions serving nearly 19.9 million clients.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi