Togo First
Togo Shortlists 25 Startups for Final Phase of OIF Digital Training Program
Togo has selected 25 startups for the final stage of the "D-CLIC, Digital Training with the OIF". Picked out of more than 100 applicants, the 25 chosen will participate in a week-long exhibition and presentation event in Lomé from April 21 to 26. The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) initiated the program, which is implemented locally by the CUBE incubator.
The program will culminate in the selection of 10 winners who will join an advanced support initiative at the UniPod-Togo hub, located at the University of Lomé. These startups represent diverse sectors within Togo’s tech ecosystem, including digital health, agro-business, e-commerce, education, artificial intelligence, cosmetics, and fashion design.
Highlighted projects include Koulmed, which facilitates homecare access; Deremapack, a producer of biodegradable packaging; and ThinkFlow, an AI-powered study assistant. These innovations showcase Togo’s growing capacity to develop market-ready solutions with significant potential.
Supported by partners such as UNDP, GIZ, ANVT, ISMB-Kara, and IYBA Seed, the program aligns with Togo’s national strategy to advance digital development and promote youth employment. Interested investors can register online to support these promising startups. The grand finale will take place on April 26 at the University of Lomé.
This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Togo Showcases Culture and Economy at Osaka World Expo
From April 13 to October 13, 2025, Togo will promote its culture and economic potential in Japan at the Osaka World Expo.
The Togolese pavilion, already open, showcases the country’s handicrafts, biodiversity, royal traditions, and iconic landscapes. The exhibition also emphasizes Togo’s ongoing economic transformation, focusing on infrastructure development, digital technology, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy.
Participating in the event is part of the government’s broader economic diplomacy strategy. By promoting the country to foreign investors and technical partners, Togo aims to strengthen its international presence. A special day dedicated to Togo is scheduled for August 19, 2025, marking a key moment to advance its economic and cultural ambitions amid growing regional competition.
This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
West Africa: BOAD Records CFA40 Billion Net Profit in 2024
The West African Development Bank (BOAD) closed the 2024 financial year with a net profit of CFA39.402 billion, against CFA36.453 billion in 2023, or 8.09% up year-on-year. The Lomé-based institution reported the performance in a press release dated April 7, 2025, after the Council of Ministers of the West African Monetary Union (WAMU) validated its accounts.
According to the source, BOAD's balance sheet total surged by 11.8%, reaching CFA3,893.5 billion compared to CFA3,482 billion in 2023. Net banking income climbed slightly to CFA114.9 billion from last year's CFA111 billion.
Several factors drove this performance, including a share capital increase of CFA554 billion, a subordinated debt issuance worth €100 million, and risk transfer mechanisms such as receivables securitization and credit insurance.
With equity standing at CFA1,390.8 billion—35.72% of its total balance sheet—BOAD maintains its reputation as a robust financial institution. Also, it kept its Investment Grade credit ratings: Baa1 from Moody’s and BBB from Fitch Ratings.
This year, BOAD said it will support several projects across the region. For example, Togo has secured CFA20 billion from the apex bank to build and operate a ministerial residence in Lomé and CFA40 billion to address energy emergencies.
This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
Togo: Around $14B Needed by 2050 to Fight Climate (World Bank)
Togo needs around $14 billion (around CFA8,320 billion) by 2050 to address climate change challenges. The World Bank forecast the need in a recent report on climate-resilient development trajectories. This figure highlights the immense structural challenges the West African nation faces as it grapples with the effects of global warming.
Climate Investments Demand 6.2% of GDP Annually
According to the Bretton Woods institution, Togo must allocate 6.2% of its GDP annually to climate-related investments until 2035. This substantial financial burden comes amid limited budgetary resources and ongoing fiscal consolidation efforts.
By 2050, investment needs will total $14 billion, with 40% earmarked for adaptation measures—such as coastal protection, agriculture, water management, and health—and 60% for mitigation efforts, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable mobility.
Togo’s vulnerability to climate risks like flooding, droughts, sea-level rise, and heat waves directly threatens its economic growth, food security, infrastructure, and social stability. "Climate change is already affecting the Togolese population," the report states, citing disruptions caused by more frequent heat waves, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and worsening coastal erosion.
Private Sector Mobilization
Given the scale of financial needs, the report urges the urgent mobilization of public and private funding through innovative mechanisms such as green bonds, climate guarantees, and public-private partnerships. The private sector is called upon to play a pivotal role in energy investments and agricultural adaptation solutions.
The report also emphasizes the importance of improved governance, regulatory incentives, and cross-sectoral planning. Without coordinated action, climate change could impose lasting economic and social costs that hinder Togo’s development.
Agriculture and Climate Resilience
Agriculture contributes 40% of Togo’s GDP and employs 70% of its impoverished population. The report recommends targeted investments in climate-smart agricultural solutions to bolster resilience against heat stress, erosion, and disease. Without intervention, Togo’s agricultural output could drop by 12.3% over the next 25 years, endangering food security and rural livelihoods.
To bridge funding gaps, the World Bank recommends prioritizing low-cost, high-yield investments while relying heavily on private sector contributions. Governance reforms could enhance resource allocation efficiency. The report also suggests developing new revenue streams and improving access to climate financing instruments.
Recent initiatives reflect these recommendations. Last October, Togo adopted a Sustainable Financing Framework to attract investments aligned with its development goals. This framework identifies fourteen categories of eligible expenditures—five dedicated to climate actions and nine targeting social projects for vulnerable populations.
Additionally, the National Assembly recently passed a law on climate change that establishes a legal framework for adaptation and mitigation policies. This legislation aims to mobilize resources needed for implementing national climate strategies.
This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Togo: SEPHIS Foundation to Support 125 Local Women-led Businesses
The SEPHIS Foundation aims to mobilize CFA1 billion to support 125 women-led SMEs in Togo. Séphora Kodjo, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, reaffirmed this goal during a meeting with Prime Minister Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé on Friday, April 4, 2025.
Kodjo stated that various packages, ranging from five to a hundred million CFA, will be allocated through partnerships with the African Guarantee Fund and Ecobank. These funds will address key needs such as business structuring, technical assistance, and access to credit.
This initiative follows a partnership agreement signed with the Ecobank Foundation months earlier. Beyond financing, SEPHIS plans to help businesses access new markets by placing their products in supermarkets.
Active in Togo since 2018, SEPHIS supports women’s leadership through conferences, training programs, and mentorship. Charlotte Guézéré leads local efforts for the foundation. To date, SEPHIS has distributed over €2 million to women entrepreneurs across Togo, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire.
This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Togo: Customs Agents Get Fast-Track Training on Procedures and Litigation
Lomé's Authorized Customs Agents (CDA) began an intensive training session on Monday, April 7, 2025. The Union Professionnelle des Agréés en Douane du Togo (ed. note: Togo Professional Union of Customs Agents)(UPRAD-Togo) organized the three-day event.
The session focuses on "Optimizing CDA customs skills for better professional performance." It aims to review the profession's fundamentals, customs regimes, disputes, and clearance procedures.
On the opening day, UPRAD President Patrick Magnon emphasized the need for CDAs to "reduce their vulnerability" to regulatory and operational challenges.
For Koffigan Dodji Akakpo, UPRAD Secretary General, the meeting aligns with their "vision of continuously strengthening the skills of our members".
Lead trainer Col. Kpatcha Kedessim, a retired inspector, highlighted common issues: goods classification errors, declaration mistakes, and unfamiliarity with customs procedures.
The three-day program covers topics including the commissionaire's profession foundations, customs services organization, legislation, regulations, procedures, and litigation.
Togo to Host International Festival of Local Economic Development Next Month
From May 15 to 17, 2025, Lomé will host the first International Festival of Local Economic Development (FIDEL). The event is orfanized by two NGOs–Initiatives des Jeunes pour le Développement (IJD) and SIM-Afrique–and backed by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN). The festival aims to mobilize local resources for the Togolese authorities.
The FIDEL will gather local officials, entrepreneurs, investors, donors, and diaspora members to strengthen local economies, attract investments, and promote public-private partnerships. "You can't discuss development without financial resources," said Pascal Agbové, IJD's Executive Director and event promoter. He added, "FIDEL provides a framework to help local authorities secure the funding needed for their projects."
The festival will feature training sessions, B2B meetings, investment presentations, and Decentralisation Night—a ceremony honoring contributors to local development. Organizers expect around 300 participants from countries such as Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Belgium, the UK, and Canada.
Togo: President Gnassingbé Poised to Mediate DRC-Rwanda Peace Talks
Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé is poised to take on a critical role as the African Union’s (AU) new mediator in the ongoing conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. The nomination, proposed by Angolan President João Lourenço, was endorsed by the AU Assembly's Bureau during a virtual meeting on April 5, 2025.
Lourenço, who recently stepped down as mediator to focus on his broader AU responsibilities, suggested Gnassingbé for the role after receiving his positive response. The appointment awaits formal validation by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
Support from Lomé
Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey quickly expressed gratitude for the nomination. “We thank the Bureau of the Assembly of the African Union, and in particular President Lourenço of Angola, for his proposal, and confirm the readiness of President Faure Gnassingbé to work for peace, reconciliatio,n and stability in the east of the DRC,” he said via X (formerly Twitter).
Togo’s latest diplomatic mission solidifies its status as a key player in West African geopolitics. As regional alliances shift and tensions mount, Lomé is emerging as a hub for diplomacy and strategy, building on its leadership during the Sahel crisis and ECOWAS withdrawals.
This stance could yield tangible benefits in bilateral cooperation and border security for the country, but it poses a significant challenge in the volatile context of tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, where Qatar's discreet mediation efforts are gaining traction.
This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
WAMU Securities: Togo Seeks CFA20 Billion in First Issue of Q2
Togo’s first issue on the West African Monetary Union (WAMU) market this quarter is scheduled for April 11. Lomé will seek CFA20 billion by issuing fungible treasury bills (Bons Assimilables du Trésor in French).
In detail, the BAT will have a face value of CFA1 million and maturities of 182 days and 364 days with varying interest rates. Proceeds will finance the country’s 2025 budget, which totals CFA2,397 billion.
Throughout the current quarter, Lomé plans to launch five issues on the regional market, eyeing CFA 75 billion. In the previous quarter, Lomé secured CFA121.5 billion from the WAMU market, out of CFA332 billion targeted for the year.
This article was initially published in French by Esaie Edoh
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
Togo Celebrates Culture with 8th Traditional Dances Festival
Togo officially launched its eighth National Festival of Traditional Dances (FESNAD) on April 3, 2025, in Kara. Governor Adjitowou Komlan presided over the ceremony, reaffirming the country’s commitment to celebrating its rich intangible heritage.
The Ministry of Communication, Media, and Culture, through the Department for the Promotion of Arts and Culture, supports this major cultural event. This year’s theme, "Our dances, our identity, our pride," encapsulates the government’s ambition to anchor traditional choreographic practices in collective memory. The ministry emphasized the urgency of preserving these practices amidst societal, urban, and media shifts that threaten their role in Togolese society.
Governor Komlan highlighted the deeper significance of traditional dances. He stated that these dances not only serve aesthetic purposes but also strengthen community bonds, foster solidarity, and reaffirm social ties.
This year’s FESNAD includes a national competition among folklore groups from Togo’s administrative regions. Each region will select a representative during local competitions to compete in the national finals in Lomé on April 26. The final coincides with Togo’s 65th Independence Day celebrations.
Organizers aim to inspire creativity while safeguarding endangered choreographic forms. They stressed that these forms face marginalization due to cultural globalization and declining community practices.
The festival serves as both a tribute to heritage and a tool for national unity. Organizers described FESNAD as a vital platform for recognizing cultural identity and fostering cohesion.
Esaïe Edoh