Samuel Munzele Maimbo, Vice-President of the World Bank, was in Lomé, Togo, on March 20. He came seeking support for his election as the next African Development Bank (AfDB) president. 

Before Togo, the Zambian economist was in Mauritania, in October 2024, and Chad, in February. In Togo, Maimbo met with President Faure Gnassingbé to present his vision and seek support, commending the country as a model of regional integration.

Lomé’s Strategic Role in the AfDB Race

As the race for the AfDB presidency heats up, Lomé has emerged as a key player in Africa’s diplomatic landscape. Maimbo emphasized Togo’s importance not only as a voting bloc but also as a unifier of African consensus.

“Togo is outperforming many African economies,” Maimbo said in an interview with Togo First. “Its growth is strong, debt is under control, inflation is contained, and it has made strategic investments in infrastructure.” 

A member of Maimbo’s campaign team highlighted Lomé’s growing influence, noting its balanced diplomacy and ability to mediate diverse perspectives across the continent.

The Port of Lomé: A Symbol of Integration

Maimbo praised the Port of Lomé as a cornerstone of African economic integration. He described it as more than just Togolese infrastructure. According to the economist, the port is a regional hub that exemplifies how investments can unify Africa.

“One of Togo’s greatest assets is the Port of Lomé,” Maimbo said. “It’s not just vital for Togo; it’s an economic engine for the entire region.” He stressed that infrastructure like roads, pipelines, ports, and trade corridors is essential for building a unified African market. “Togo understands this,” he added, “and its investments benefit both itself and its neighbors.”

A Tight Race for AfDB Leadership

Maimbo faces stiff competition from Senegal’s Amadou Hott, Chad’s Abbas Tolli, Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah, and South Africa’s Bajabulile Tshabalala. Backed by SADC and COMESA, Maimbo has built his platform around practical solutions to Africa’s challenges. The election, scheduled for May 29, 2025, will see African countries control 60% of the vote and non-African nations hold 40%.

“If elected AfDB President, I will champion initiatives like those in Togo. African integration requires concrete projects that deliver sustainable results. Togo shows what works, and we must build on these successes to accelerate development across the continent,” Maimbo declared in Lomé.

With the election nearing, diplomatic efforts are intensifying. Lomé remains at the heart of negotiations that could shape Africa’s development financing for years ahead.

This article was initially published in French by Fiacre E.  Kakpo

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Lomé will host the inaugural International Women's Entrepreneurship Fair

(SIEF) from July 24 to 26, 2025. Backed by the Citoyens d'Afrique Foundation and KD Group, this event will spotlight female innovation under the theme “Africa of all opportunities.”

The SIEF will focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 5, 8, and 9), offering a platform for women in the private sector to connect, learn, and grow. The event will feature hands-on training, workshops, mentoring sessions, project pitches to investors, and awards for standout projects.

The fair will also include a symposium on “Women, the Law and Empowerment,” specialized training for craftswomen and artists, and wellness areas to showcase a holistic approach to women’s economic empowerment.

According to Kayi Dogbé, chair of the organizing committee, "This exhibition aims to celebrate the creative genius of African women and their role in the economy.”

Female entrepreneurs can submit their projects now via www.sief.africa.

This article was initially published in English by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

The Togolese National Assembly unanimously adopted a new climate change law on March 20, 2025. The new law is a milestone in the country’s environmental preservation efforts.

In detail, it establishes a legal and institutional framework for climate adaptation and mitigation policies. It also outlines tools and mechanisms to support Togo's environmental transition and emphasizes the economic value of ecosystem services and natural capital.

Commenting on the adoption, Foli-Bazi Katari, Environment Minister said: "This specific law gives the government additional leverage to frame the development process by sufficiently integrating communities' adaptation to the phenomenon and keeping the country's commitment to contribute to reducing emissions."

Some major climate change consequences that Togo experiences include recurrent flooding, prolonged drought, coastal erosion, and intense heat waves.

This new climate law aligns with Togo's international commitments. In the past few years, Lomé has intensified its anti-climate change actions. Togo adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1995.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

The Ministry of Technical Education, Vocational Training, and Apprenticeship (METFPA) in Togo has started recruiting 175 young Togolese for vocational training. The campaign aims to integrate vulnerable and disadvantaged youth into various trades.

Training Designed for Local Needs

The Ministry will train selected candidates in companies or specialized centers for two to four months. The training fields include poultry rearing, fish farming, market gardening, composting, meat and fish processing, shoemaking, irrigation techniques, and body care.

Regional Distribution of Opportunities

The distribution of training slots includes 25 positions in the Savanes Region, 35 in Kara, 20 in the Central Region, 20 in Plateaux-East, 25 in Plateaux-West, 30 in the Maritime Region, and 20 in Greater Lomé's Autonomous District.

Eligibility and Application Process

Applicants must be between 18 and 45 years old, motivated, have a project idea, and commit to practicing the trade after training. Candidates can apply for free at the regional technical education offices. Application deadline is March 31, 2025,

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

With support from the Commonwealth, the Togolese Presidency has launched a digital skills training program for students, professionals, and executives. The initiative aims to enhance digital expertise in key sectors and is open to 200 applicants. Training will be delivered through the Simplilearn platform.

Participants must at least have a diploma affiliated with Togolese academic institutions, companies, or government offices. The application deadline is March 25, 2025. The program will run for eight weeks, ending in June 2025.

Courses offered will cover artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, software development, technology project management, and digital transformation.

The initiative aligns with President Faure Gnassingbé’s strategy to boost Togo’s digital capabilities and position his country as a tech hub in West Africa.

This program also deepens Togo’s collaboration with the Commonwealth and advances its digital transformation agenda. 

Togo and Barbados teamed up to create an Afro-Caribbean Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Transport, and Tourism. Kovi Adanbounou, mayor of Agoè-Nyivé 1, made the announcement. This chamber will connect Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East to drive trade and investment.

The move follows a Togolese business delegation's visit to Barbados from February 24 to 27, 2025. Mayor Adanbounou says this is part of a broader strategy to diversify economic partnerships and boost intercontinental trade.

Barbados will be a gateway for Togolese and African companies entering the Caribbean. In return, Togo will help Caribbean businesses expand into Africa.

Togo and Barbados started cooperating in 2024 by dropping visa requirements. This new chamber announces major opportunities in tourism, transport, trade, and industry, and should help Togo shine on the global economic stage.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

By the end of January 2025, Togo’s student health insurance program, SCHOOL AMU, had raised CFA356 million, according to the National Health Insurance Institute (INAM). This program, which replaced the School Assur initiative, is now part of the Universal Health Insurance (UHI) system.

SCHOOL AMU provides health coverage for pupils in public schools, ranging from nursery to secondary school. Each pupil is entitled to a maximum annual cover of CFA30,000. The scheme covers consultations, hospitalization, medical tests, pharmacy services, and minor surgeries at approved public health facilities.

Regional data highlights Plateaux and Savanes as the top beneficiaries. INAM reported that by January 2025, 213,411 treatment forms had been used under SCHOOL AMU. The Plateaux region recorded 73,141 consultations, costing CFA133.3 million, while Savanes followed with 70,250 forms used and expenditures totaling CFA105.1 million. Other regions benefiting include Maritime, Centrale, Kara, and Grand Lomé.

Nationwide, approximately 2.2 million pupils are eligible for state health coverage during the current school year. SCHOOL AMU was officially integrated into UHI in October 2024 after operating as School Assur since its launch in 2017.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo’s capital, Lomé, is hosting a sub-regional workshop on urban resilience and climate risk management, convening experts in West Africa.

Organized by the German development agency GIZ, in collaboration with the African Union and the Decentralisation and Governance program (ProDeG IV), the event runs through March 20. Participants include representatives from ECOWAS, private industry, and academia.

The workshop comes as sub-Saharan Africa experiences rapid urbanization, straining infrastructure and housing while exposing cities to increasing risks from natural disasters and climate change. 

Dr. Edoh Komla Théodore, Director of Cabinet at Togo’s Ministry of Urban Planning, underscored the stakes: “The strong growth of cities, while an economic opportunity, also exposes populations to increased risks, notably flooding, drought, and landslides.”

The opening session focused on strategies for sustainable urbanization, risk management, and financing resilience projects. Discussions also addressed regulatory frameworks and financial solutions to foster inclusive urban development.

Two additional workshops are planned. The second will examine participatory risk analyses and financing opportunities. The final session will focus on drafting concrete action plans to create urban models better equipped to withstand climate challenges.

The overarching goal is to combine local expertise with global best practices to shape cities that can adapt to an increasingly volatile climate.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo has taken a major step forward in technical and vocational education. On March 18, 2025, four key institutions—Institut national de formation et de perfectionnement professionnels (INFPP), the Agence de l'Éducation-Développement (AED), the Centre régional de formation pour l'entretien routier (CERFER), and the Centre de formation aux métiers de l'industrie (CFMI) —signed a partnership agreement in Lomé to revamp the sector.

The agreement, outlined in 10 articles, focuses on three main areas: sharing expertise, providing necessary equipment, and offering market-driven training. The initiative aligns with Togo’s 2020-2025 government roadmap and Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes quality education.

The initial three-year pilot phase targets critical fields like refrigeration, civil engineering, air conditioning, car mechanics, and plumbing. This move was prompted by a lack of applications in recent teacher recruitment, as noted by Assedi Kossi Ikélé, Director at the Ministry for Technical Education.

Ikélé hailed the agreement as "a major step towards overhauling and improving the Togolese education system," emphasizing its role in enhancing quality education and workforce integration. INFPP Director Emile Kossi N'Guissan added that it supports Togo's 2018 education policy that promotes teaching excellence. “This partnership reinforces our commitment to ensuring quality education across the country,” he said. 

Esaïe Edoh