Togo First
Lacs 1 municipality reviews 2025 accounts, posts 9.5 mln CFA franc deficit
The Lacs 1 municipality in Togo, whose administrative seat is Aného, held its second regular session of the year this week.
The session is reviewing the 2025 administrative and management accounts. Discussions cover budget execution, local revenue mobilisation and communal development priorities.
According to data presented to the municipal council, the 2025 draft budget was balanced at 1.005 billion CFA francs in both revenue and expenditure, including 630.9 million CFA francs in investment spending and the remainder in operating expenditure.
As of Dec. 31, 2025, revenue reached 426.7 million CFA francs, compared with expenditure of 436.2 million CFA francs.
The coastal municipality recorded a deficit of 9.5 million CFA francs for the year.
More broadly, the figures highlight the budgetary constraints facing several local authorities, which remain dependent on limited resources while confronting growing demand for public infrastructure.
Despite the shortfall, the municipality said it completed several projects in 2025. These include the development of a football field, the rehabilitation of municipal buildings, the construction of a hangar at the Adjido cemetery, a motorcycle taxi platform, and drainage channel clearing and public lighting works. Toilet blocks, water connections and solar street lamps were also installed.
The council is also examining several deliberations with economic and social implications. Elected officials are expected to decide on the “Aného Vert 2050” plan, measures to curb plastic bags, the regulation of the motorcycle taxi sector and cooperation agreements with external partners.
Mayor Aquéréburu Coffi Alexis said the financial review would help “identify strengths and weaknesses” to guide future decisions.
R.E.D
Togo lists 168 licensed architects in latest official registry
Togo has 168 architects licensed to practice in the country, according to the latest registry published Wednesday by the National Order of Architects of Togo (ONAT).
The registry, as of March 31, 2026, was presented in Lomé by the Order’s governing council. It lists 168 registered architects, including 143 men and 25 women, as well as 68 architecture firms.
According to ONAT, the registry serves two purposes. “It informs the public about authorized professionals while also acting as a regulatory tool for relevant authorities,” said its president, Péyébinesso Limazie.
Limazie said the regular publication of the document also aims to protect the public against unauthorized practices. “The services and expertise of architects are essential for any construction project, starting from the design stage. Togo’s architects are trained, licensed and available,” he said.
The updated registry shows growth in the profession. In May 2024, the Order listed 126 architects, including 106 men and 20 women.
Esaïe Edoh
BCEAO to Set 24% Cap on Microfinance Lending Rates from June 2026
West African microfinance lenders operating in Togo will face tighter interest rate caps from June 1, 2026, under a reform by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO).
The interest rate cap for microfinance institutions in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) will be reduced to 24% from 27%. For commercial banks, the ceiling remains unchanged at 14%.
The cap is intended to protect borrowers from high-cost lending. It applies to the Annual Percentage Rate (APR), which reflects the total cost of credit, including interest, processing fees, commissions and other mandatory charges. Lenders that exceed the regulatory ceiling risk sanctions from the WAEMU Banking Commission.
In Togo, microfinance institutions play a central role in providing credit to small traders, farmers, artisans and households excluded from the traditional banking system.
The lower cap will require some institutions to adjust their pricing models, review lending practices and better manage operating costs.
Interest rates charged by microfinance lenders in Togo can reach 20% or more on some products.
Institutions often justify these rates by citing structural constraints, including small loan sizes, intensive client monitoring, operations in rural areas and higher default risks. For some borrowers, the three-percentage-point reduction could lower borrowing costs, but it may also lead lenders to tighten credit conditions for higher-risk loans.
Togo, which has one of the highest financial inclusion rates in WAEMU, will need to balance stronger borrower protection with maintaining access to community-level financing.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo, Kyrgyzstan sign strategic cooperation agreements in Bishkek
Togo and Kyrgyzstan entered a new phase of bilateral cooperation on Wednesday, marked by the signing of several agreements during a visit to Bishkek by Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé.
Eight memorandums of understanding were signed, covering diplomacy, the digital economy, culture, investment, education, health and agriculture. The accords aim to strengthen and formalise relations between Lomé and Bishkek, officials said.
The two countries also signed a mutual visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports, a measure intended to ease travel for officials and streamline institutional exchanges.
In the digital economy, a memorandum of understanding covers the development of information and communications technology. It includes provisions for the digital transformation of public administrations, the expansion of e-government services, improvements to cybersecurity and the deployment of modern infrastructure, including 5G networks.
A cultural cooperation agreement sets out the promotion of cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, encourages artistic exchanges and supports cultural industries.
On the economic front, two investment agreements were signed to promote and protect investment. They aim to create a more attractive environment and encourage investment flows between the two countries, particularly benefiting Togo.
A memorandum of understanding on higher education aims to expand academic exchanges, student and faculty mobility, mutual recognition of academic qualifications and capacity building.
The two countries also concluded a health agreement covering cooperation in public health, epidemiology and the prevention of non-communicable diseases. It includes provisions for the sharing of expertise, training for medical personnel and the implementation of vaccination campaigns.
A final agreement focuses on agriculture. It aims to strengthen exchanges in crop production, livestock and fisheries through the sharing of expertise, the development of tailored policies and the promotion of joint projects.
With these agreements, Lomé and Bishkek are laying the foundation for broader cooperation in key sectors of economic and social development.
Esaïe Edoh
Lomé to host UNCTAD regional meeting on women in e-commerce
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will hold a regional meeting in Lomé on May 6-7, 2026, bringing together women involved in e-commerce as part of its “eTrade for Women” programme.
The Togolese capital will host digital entrepreneurs from several countries, aiming to strengthen their e-commerce skills. The meeting will also provide a platform to share experiences and build professional networks across the region.
The programme includes discussion sessions on digital business development, with a focus on improving online performance and developing financing strategies tailored to participants’ businesses.
The meeting is also expected to offer opportunities to form partnerships with stakeholders in the digital ecosystem and explore new areas of collaboration.
It comes as, in Togo and across much of Africa, women play a major role in trade but remain largely in the informal sector, with limited incomes and growth prospects. E-commerce is seen as a way to overcome geographic barriers, expand market access and reach new customers, including in the diaspora and across the region, notably through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
For Togo, hosting the meeting is part of broader efforts to promote digital inclusion. Authorities expect it to help integrate more women into the digital economy, strengthen competitiveness and support inclusive growth.
The International Insurance Institute opens entrance exam for fourth insurance master’s cohort
The insurance sector in the CIMA zone is once again open to applicants from Togo. The International Insurance Institute (IIA), based in Yaoundé, has launched its entrance exam for the fourth cohort of its Professional Master’s in Insurance (MPA) for 2026–2028, with registrations open across member states, including Togo, according to the Ministry of Finance and Budget.
The program aims to train professionals capable of working in underwriting, claims management, actuarial science, finance, compliance and insurance company management. Such skills remain in demand across several African markets.
The curriculum includes general knowledge, law, economics, insurance techniques, financial mathematics, statistics and accounting. It is aligned with the needs of CIMA-regulated markets.
Candidates must be nationals of a CIMA member state, be under 45 years old and be nominated by their country.
Eligible candidates include holders of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in law, economics, mathematics, statistics, accounting or finance, as specified in the official notice.
The registration deadline is June 23, 2026. Written exams are scheduled for July 7-8, 2026.
The IIA in Yaoundé is a regional institution dedicated to higher education in insurance, finance and risk management. It serves CIMA member states, which include 14 African countries, among them Togo.
R.E.D
Togo: IFAD Steps Up Support for PRIMA, New Investments Expected in 2026
Togo is continuing implementation of the Regional Agricultural Market Integration Program (PRIMA). A technical mission from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) visited the country this month to support the program, which is co-financed with the Togolese state.
The objective is to strengthen the operational capacity of the national team and accelerate implementation of the 2026 annual work plan.
For 2026, PRIMA-Togo plans several major investments. The program includes new Planned Agricultural Development Zones (ZAAPs), boreholes, storage and marketing infrastructure, as well as feasibility studies for the rehabilitation of rural roads and lowland development projects.
These investments aim to reduce post-harvest losses, improve access to water, facilitate market access and boost productivity.
As part of the mission, the team visited a ZAAP construction site in Agbatitoè, in Haho prefecture, to assess progress and identify any necessary adjustments.
Beyond infrastructure, PRIMA also has a regional component. The program aims to facilitate agricultural trade between Togo and Benin, particularly along cross-border corridors.
Previous meetings between economic operators from both countries set a target of a 30% increase in trade along the corridors concerned. Market garden produce, heavily traded between Lomé, Aného, Grand-Popo and Cotonou, is among the priority value chains.
For Togo, PRIMA is part of a broader national strategy to modernize agriculture and strengthen food sovereignty. The findings of the IFAD mission are expected to inform a mid-term review scheduled for the third quarter of 2026.
R.E.D
Togo’s CNSS to begin proof-of-life checks on May 4, 2026
Togo’s National Social Security Fund (CNSS) will launch a new proof-of-life campaign for pensioners and beneficiaries starting May 4, 2026. The campaign will run until June 30 and applies to beneficiaries in Togo and abroad.
As in previous campaigns, the process will be conducted entirely online. Beneficiaries must submit their biometric data through the "BIOSECU" platform, accessible via the CNSS portal.
The campaign targets pensioners and beneficiaries who have been paid regularly through the end of April 2026.
To complete the process, beneficiaries must have a valid identity document, an active phone number and their reference numbers, including their benefits number or insurance number.
"Beneficiaries must have a valid identity document such as a national identity card, passport, AMU card, ANID card, voter card, driver’s license, residence permit or savings booklet, as well as an active phone number. They must also refer to their benefits notification or their last proof-of-life receipt to retrieve their reference numbers before logging into BIOSECU," the CNSS said.
The CNSS said the periodic verification is intended to secure benefit management, prevent administrative errors and ensure payments are made to eligible recipients.
Beneficiaries who fail to complete the process will have their payments suspended from July 2026, in line with the social security code.
Togo, Kyrgyzstan discuss investment opportunities
Togo’s Council President Faure Gnassingbé arrived in Bishkek on Tuesday for an official visit to Kyrgyzstan, where he is due to meet President Sadyr Japarov.
The visit aims to strengthen ties between the two countries in several areas. The leaders will discuss investment opportunities in high-potential economic and social sectors.
After the talks, the two sides are expected to sign cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding. Officials said the deals would mark a new phase in bilateral relations.
During the visit, the Togolese delegation will tour economic, cultural and historical sites. “These visits will provide an opportunity to exchange expertise and explore development approaches that could inform future cooperation,” the presidency said.
Togo and Kyrgyzstan have maintained diplomatic relations since 2015.
Togo finance ministry expands archival training in digitization push
Togo’s Ministry of Finance and Budget is continuing efforts to modernize its administration. A second training session on physical and electronic records management is running until Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the Administrative Center for Economic and Financial Services (CASEF), as part of the ministry’s 2024-2027 training plan.
The session follows an initial phase held in November 2025, which focused on the fundamentals of archival science.
The ministry produces a large volume of documents each year related to budget preparation, financial oversight, supervision of state-owned enterprises and monitoring of financial institutions. Improving records management is expected to reduce processing times, improve access to information and strengthen the traceability of administrative decisions.
The new session focuses on electronic document management (EDM), including the digitization, classification and long-term preservation of administrative files.
According to the ministry, 33 participants are being trained in digitization techniques, indexing, document retrieval and records management. The program also includes practical training on Alfresco, a platform used to manage document workflows and automate validation processes.
The training is led by Togolese trainer Holonou Danklou, who also conducted the first phase. He is tasked with preparing the training modules, delivering the sessions and producing a final report with evaluations and recommendations.
For the government, digitizing archives aims to support a more responsive and reliable financial administration. The goal is to establish a sustainable system that ensures security, accessibility and regulatory compliance.
Beyond its technical scope, the reform is part of a broader digital transformation of the Togolese state, as public agencies seek to improve service delivery and public data management.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi