Togo recently received €11 million from Germany to improve feeding in schools.

The funds, provided through the German Development Bank (KfW), will help the World Food Programme (WFP) feed 28,000 children in 110 schools spread across the Kara and Savanes regions. Some of these schools host refugees and displaced people.

The project includes fixing school kitchens, installing better stoves, creating gardens and mills to support local farming, and teaching children, parents, and teachers about nutrition.

“We're creating a system that connects local farming to school meals, which helps development,” said Dr. Moïse Ballo, WFP country director in Togo. 

Commenting on the initiative, German Ambassador Dr. Claudius Fischbach emphasized its importance for food security and stability in the area.

It is worth noting that Togo's Ministry of Agriculture, local groups, the FAO, and the WFP, plan to help 8,250 small farmers and 1,000 women in cooperatives.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi*

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

The Togolese capital hosted this week, on February 25 and 26, the Regional Civil Society Forum on Girls' Education and Women's Economic Empowerment in West and Central Africa. Held at the 2 Février Hotel, the forum was organized by the World Bank and the Brazzaville Foundation.

The event aimed to help civil society groups promote education and financial independence for women. Participants identified key actions to take, networked, and shared experiences. For civil society organizations (CSOs), it was the opportunity to discuss collaboration opportunities with World Bank officials.

Committed to Women’s Empowerment

Togo's efforts to empower women are timely and recognized internationally. "Today, it is impossible to conceive of the development of our continent without women, because they are in the majority," said Sandra Ablamba Johnson, Minister and Secretary General of the Presidency of the Togolese Republic, at the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in October 2024. Togo also excels in gender equality, scoring 97.5 points in the World Bank's "Women, Business and the Law" report—the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.

Togo has introduced a new rule for importers of fish, poultry meat, and related products. Effective February 20, 2025, importers must buy at least 10% of their requested quantity from local suppliers before they can get permission to import. This rule was announced by the Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Resources.

According to the Ministry, the measure aims to support local producers, improve food security and reduce reliance on imports. 

The move also aims to help local producers who do not produce enough to meet local demand and struggle to find local buyers.

The government seeks to drive up local production through the recent measure. The move also aims to help better organize these industries. Similar rules were tried before for poultry imports, but they were hard to enforce.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

To boost local entrepreneurs’ e-commerce skills, Togo’s trade ministry launched a 3-day workshop targeting SMEs on February 25, 2025. Participants were introduced to practical aspects of e-commerce.

The participants, nearly 30 business owners, learned about boosting online sales, managing digital payments, and handling logistics. They were equipped with strategies to improve their presence on e-commerce platforms and become more competitive.

"Over these three days, we will discuss the rules and technical aspects of e-commerce," explained Harold Kpodar, the e-commerce consultant leading the training. "We will also focus on communication and marketing strategies crucial for online success. Additionally, we will explore the opportunities offered by Zlecaf for Togolese entrepreneurs."

Comlan Yakpey, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Commerce, representing the Minister, emphasized that entrepreneurs need to master online commerce tools to fully benefit from the AfCFTA.

Togo's e-commerce sector is thriving, thanks to better internet access. Today, over 20% of the population uses e-commerce, up from just 6% in 2018.

Togo and Burkina Faso are working together on cultural projects at the 2025 Ouagadougou Pan-African Film and Television Festival (FESPACO). This festival is a big event for African movies.

On February 22, 2025, Togo's Minister of Communication, Media and Culture, Yawa Kouigan, met with Burkina Faso's Prime Minister, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo. They talked about how important cinema and culture are for West Africa's growth.

“Cinema and culture do not require official agreements to thrive, they are naturally imposed by the fraternity between African creators,” Ms. Kouigan said. She praised the strength of the African film industry.

Togo sent a team of 50 film professionals to the festival. They have six films competing in different categories like film criticism, series, animation, and more. Togo was honored at the last FESPACO in 2023.

The University of Lomé in Togo will host the African Conference of Physics from September 14 to 20, 2025. This conference brings together international researchers, educators, and decision-makers to strengthen scientific cooperation and promote physics research in Africa.

The event’s organizing committee made the announcement official during a trip to Lomé on February 18, 2025. Led by Dr. Horst Severini from the University of Oklahoma, the committee met with Professor Adama Mawulé Kpodar, President of the University of Lomé, to discuss the conference details and inspect the facilities.

The conference will focus on key areas like astroparticle physics, renewable energies, and medical physics. These areas are important for technological development in Africa. Hosting this event positions the University of Lomé to become a major player in scientific innovation in the region and attract more partnerships.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Over the next two years, a Togolese will head the Inter-African Fertility Research and Application Study Group (GIERAF). The new president, Dr. Jean Claude Kolani, takes the baton from Coulibaly Founzégué Amadou. Kolani was appointed after the group's 9th congress held in Lomé from February 20 to 22, 2025.

The congress’ latest edition focused on addressing infertility challenges in Africa, highlighting medical advancements and prevention strategies. During the event, the GIERAF management team met with Togo's Prime Minister, Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé, who expressed the government's support for the group's mission.

Founded in 2009 in Lomé, the GIERAF includes 15 countries from West and Central Africa. The group is dedicated to enhancing infertility management through research and medical training. The group’s first president was also a Togolese, Dr. Moïse Fiadjoe. Fiadjoe led the body from 2009 to 2011.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Over the recent years, Togo has made major progress in women's empowerment. Ousmane Diagana, World Bank Vice-President for West and Central Africa, made the statement in a meeting with Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé in Lomé on February 25, 2025.

Diagana credits Togo's achievement to its strong tradition of women leaders, like the Nana-Benz, who have played a crucial role in the country's economy. “We have studied this example closely and want to share it with other countries. What matters is these women's contribution in both the government and private sector,” he said.

Le Président de la République, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé s’est entretenu ce mardi 25 février 2025 à Lomé avec Monsieur Ousmane Diagana, Vice-président de la Banque mondiale pour l’Afrique de l’ouest et du centre.https://t.co/1LUclGPZMm pic.twitter.com/kqR7fmGk1V

— Présidence Togolaise/Togolese Presidency (@PresidenceTg) February 26, 2025

Togo's achievements are highlighted in the World Bank's “Women, Business and Law 2024” report, where it scored very high—97.5 out of 100. The index puts Togo at the best in Africa relative to promoting women's rights.

Over the past decade, Togo has launched several initiatives to help women financially and economically. In 2024, for example, it launched a major project, the National Fund for Inclusive Finance, which provides special financing to women and young people so they can contribute more to the economy.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh 

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé of Togo met with UK Ambassador Harriet Thompson on February 26, 2025. The meeting focused on fostering the cooperation between the two countries. They covered key economic areas like trade and investment.

"Our companies want to work with local businesses, invest, and trade more with Togo," said Ambassador Thompson. They also discussed how to cooperate more on the defense and security fronts, especially relative to fighting terrorism and sharing experiences to make the region more stable.

Ambassador Thompson praised President Gnassingbé’s efforts to preserve peace and stability in West Africa. 

Last year, a delegation of British investors was in Togo to explore business opportunities. They had visited the Adétikopé industrial platform, among others.