On May 16, the municipalities of Sotouboua 2 and Doufelgou 1 in northern Togo started drafting their municipal development plans (PDC). The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) supports the effort with technical and financial aid.

The drafting process aims to equip these local governments with tools to identify their communities’ needs and set priority actions.

This initiative fits into Togo’s national policy to decentralize power and build local government capacity. The plans will yield reference documents to guide development projects for the next five years.

The process includes diagnosing municipal challenges, clarifying stakeholders’ roles, raising awareness about the plan, and training officials to collect data in the affected cantons. Once complete, Sotouboua 2 and Doufelgou 1 will join about 60 other Togolese communes with development plans.

The PDC serves as a strategic tool for local planning. It lets municipalities outline broad public investment guidelines for a set period. The plan targets key population needs in basic infrastructure, social services, agriculture, environmental protection, and youth employment.

This article was initially published in French by Esaie Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Togo’s Retirement Fund (CRT) paid out more than CFA12.96 billion in social benefits during the first quarter of 2025, exceeding total receipts of CFA11.97 billion and resulting in a technical deficit of nearly CFA1 billion. The data was released by the fund.

The CRT disbursed pensions to 27,883 retirees and provided widow’s pensions and temporary allowances to 7,159 and 6,198 beneficiaries, respectively. Family benefits accounted for over CFA1.1 billion in payments, while disability pensions totaled CFA21 million.

Pension contributions totalled around CFA11.63 billion during the quarter concerned; that is 97.2% of CRT’s revenue over the period. 

The fund also earned CFA215 million from financial income, likely from investments, and CFA119 million from other sources, including subsidies and reimbursements.

The data highlights CRT’s heavy reliance on contributions from active members, with limited income generated from investments or other independent sources.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

A new FAO report reveals that in Togo, people need about $3.20 daily (almost CFA2,000) to access a healthy diet. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) defines the Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) as the minimum price to locally obtain foods meeting an individual's daily nutritional needs, based on a 2,330 kcal intake.

The FAO bases this indicator on six essential food groups. These include starchy foods, nuts and seeds, pulses, oils and fats, fruits, and animal products.

Adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP), this cost makes Togo one of Africa's least expensive countries for healthy eating. Only Guinea is cheaper, at $3.10. Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal are more expensive, at $3.30 and $3.40, respectively.

This figure ranks Togo as the sixth cheapest for healthy food on the continent. It remains well below the African average of $3.74 (approximately CFA2200).

Despite this relatively low cost in a region facing economic insecurity, the FAO warns that this price level does not guarantee actual access to healthy food for everyone.

Although West Africa has the continent's lowest average cost ($3.65), nearly 300 million people there cannot afford a balanced diet. Togo shares this challenge. Pockets of poverty, geographical inequalities, and a lack of nutritional education hinder healthy diet adoption.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

In Togo, the Union of Regional Chambers of Trade (UCRM) and the Confederation of Junior Enterprises (CJET) will help young craftsmen structure and formalize their business. The two institutions signed a partnership agreement to this end on May 15, 2025.

The deal, spanning five years, will help beneficiaries hone their management skills, secure loans and access markets with more ease. The UCRM and CJET also wants to help young Togolese craftsmen more visible across in both the public and private sectors.

Issa Mouhamed, President of UCRM, considers the deal as “more than a partnership”.  “It is a commitment,” he declared, emphasizing the talent of Togolese craftsmen and the importance of economic recognition.

“This partnership is a concrete response to the need to structure young craft enterprises,” said CJET boss, Médissa Sama, stressing that the move will help artisans “make a living from their craft” and comply with regional and international standards, facilitating smoother relations with government and social security bodies.

The CJET recently inked a similar agreement with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-Togo), also focused on youth entrepreneurship.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

On May 15, Togolese mesofinance group Cofina introduced a new savings product, CofiPrivilège. The product targets high-potential managers, executives, and entrepreneurs.

CofiPrivilège offers secure asset management with tailored services for an upscale clientele. Features include fast money transfers within Cofina’s operating countries, international prepaid cards, and banking services designed for mobile professionals. Additional benefits include premium concierge services, enhanced medical advice and insurance, and customized financing options.

"This is a unique product, designed to meet the specific needs of modern entrepreneurs," said Pascal Kové, head of Cofina Togo. Kové took over the group’s subsidiary last March.

Cofina currently operates in nine countries. Its Togolese branch, active since 2020, holds outstanding loans exceeding CFA30 billion and has over 200 employees. Cofina plans to broaden its financial services and continue expanding in the country.

This article was initially published in French by Octave A. Bruce

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Togo plans to raise CFA20 billion on the West African Monetary Union (WAMU) public securities market on May 23. The country’s Treasury has launched a simultaneous issue of fungible treasury bills (BATs) and fungible treasury bonds (OAT) to meet this goal.

In detail, the Treasury will seek CFA7 billion through bonds maturing in 182 days. These bonds carry a nominal value of FCFA1 million and offer multiple interest rates. The remaining CFA13 billion will come from three-year bonds with a nominal value of FCFA 10,000 and a fixed interest rate of 6.25%.

Togo will use the funds to finance its 2025 national budget, which totals CFA2,397 billion in revenue and expenditure.

Since January, Lomé has raised CFA187.5 billion on the regional market, inching to its annual target of CFA332 billion.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Togo (CCI-Togo) held an open day this Friday, May 16. The event took place simultaneously in Lomé and other economic regions across the country. Through it, the CCI-Togo sought to raise awareness about its missions, services, and projects among business operators, young entrepreneurs, and the general public.

The day featured several activities: information workshops, exhibitions, and networking sessions. The goal was to promote exchanges, build partnerships, and boost entrepreneurship across all regions.

At the launch, José Kwassi Symenouh, President of CCI-Togo, declared: “Following the observation of a need for information and dialogue between the Chamber and economic operators, this day bears witness to our constant desire to listen to the players in the sector, to better respond to their expectations and to strengthen our role as a local partner in the development of the private sector.”

Feou Luciano, Director General of Private Sector Development and representative of the Minister of Trade, emphasized the event’s importance, saying: “This activity not only brings the Chamber closer to economic operators, but also promotes a better understanding of its missions, to strengthen trust and collaboration between public and private players.”

Founded in 1921, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry plays a key role in supporting Togo’s private sector. It acts as a bridge between the government and business operators. The Chamber promotes entrepreneurship, supports local initiatives, and fosters lasting partnerships.

The Togolese Exhibition and Trade Fair Centre (CETEF) will host the first Health and Wellbeing Exhibition from July 2 to 8 in Lomé. The event will focus on the theme “Prevention and well-being: investing in a healthier future.”  The CETEF aims to connect citizens with the latest medical innovations and promote fair access to healthcare.

Alexandre de Souza, the CETEF’s Managing Director, said, “Through this initiative, the CETEF is reaffirming its vocation to be much more than an exhibition space, a place where solutions are born. A heart that beats to the rhythm of great causes. A lever at the service of the common good.”

The week-long event will feature conferences, exhibitions, free medical consultations, and telemedicine training. It will target both healthcare professionals and the public.

Togo-Israel Trade Talks Set to Run Alongside the Exhibition

Alongside the exhibition, the CETEF will organize a “Togo-Israel Trade Talks” forum on digital health. This forum will highlight cooperation between Togo and Israel, a country known for medical innovation and technology. De Souza explained, “By associating ourselves with this expertise, we are betting on the transfer of skills, technological cooperation, and international solidarity. Through this forum, we are no longer talking about accessibility, but about equality. We are no longer talking about distance, but rather connection.”

Registrations opened recently and will close on June 30, 2025.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

The Togolese capital is hosting the first Local Economic Development Festival (FDEL). The three-day event closes tomorrow, May 17. It is organized by Initiatives des Jeunes pour le Développement (IJD), an NGO, and SIM-Afrique, a consultancy firm. 

The festival aims to boost regional growth by promoting public-private partnerships and mobilizing local resources. It features panels, training sessions, business meetings, and an evening focused on decentralization. The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) supports the event.

“Local economic development has moved from the margins to the center of social and urban policy,” said Pascal Edoh Agbové, IJD’s Executive Director, at the opening. As this meeting unfolds, Togo’s government is ramping up efforts to give local authorities greater financial control, which is vital for sustainable development locally.

The festival gathered about 300 participants, including officials, local leaders, investors, and experts from several countries.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum