At the end of last week, the national commission fighting the proliferation of small caliber and light firearms (CNLPAL) destroyed small-caliber weapons and ammunition (obsolete and ceased). This was done in collaboration with the United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC).

A total of 2,300 arms and more than 10,000 bullets were destroyed. 

The initiative took place on the international day of peace, in the presence of Damehane Yark, minister of security, and Damian Mama, coordinator of the UN system in Togo. It is according to CNLPAL’s chairman, Têko Koudouovoh, “a strong signal” sent to criminal groups, “both inside and outside the country.”  

A few weeks ago, it should be recalled, authorities undertook a weapon marking operation.

Twelve local organizations of forest and farm producers will benefit from a financial agreement recently signed by the FAO and five development partners.

Under the agreement, benefiting entities in the country’s central, maritime and plateaux regions will improve their capacities using funding of more than XOF88 million provided by the FAO and the partners.

The initiative falls under the FAO’s Forest and Farm Facility – FFF whose second phase was launched last April in Togo.

“Agreements signed between FAO and these various organizations will help reinforce capacities of grassroots producers preparing to contribute to the restoration of landscapes and lands, in line with the AFR 100 initiative,” declared Issifou Aboudoumisamilou, Facilitator of FFF in Togo.

The FFF is financially supported by Germany, FAO-EU, Finland, Ikea, and Sweden. Its second phase is implemented by GIZ.

In its framework, Togo committed to restoring 1.4 million hectares by 2030.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

The West African Development Bank, the financial arm of the West African States Economic and Monetary Union, has for some years now been fighting global warming through various initiatives.

For example, earlier this year, it organized in Accra the African Climate Week. In 2018, the regional institution also launched a contest to select an innovative project in the renewable energy sector, on the sidelines of its 45th anniversary.

More recently, the bank’s headquarters in Lomé started a transition to achieve carbon neutrality or net zero-emission. A major energetic plan is underway at the BOAD. In this framework “energy-saving bulbs have already been installed, and solar panels followed,” said Serge Bouah, Chief of communication, marketing, public relations at BOAD.

Net-zero emission implies that all man-made greenhouse gas emissions must be removed from the atmosphere through reduction measures, thus reducing the earth’s net climate balance, after removal via natural and artificial sink to zero.

Séna Akoda

From October 14 to 16, the 2019 Africa Code Week will be taking place in Togo. The event was launched last Friday at the ministry of posts, digital economy and technological innovations.

Before that, on September 13 and 14, a training workshop for the concerned trainers was organized.

Launched in 2015 by the German firm SAP (which stands for Systems, Applications, and Products for data processing), the Africa Code Week aims at teaching coding to more than 1.5 million youth in 37 African countries, including Togo, every year.

In Togo, at its first edition, more than 3,000 children were introduced to programming.

Séna Akoda

Moov-Togo and NSIA-Togo have partnered to launch “Zem Assur”, “the country’s very first mobile-based micro-insurance product for taxi-bikes and two or three-wheel drives.” This was disclosed by Moov last Friday.   

The insurance can be subscribed via Flooz, Moov’s mobile money service. Insured drivers, in the event of accidents, are taken care of by NSIA which covers first aid and additional treatment with XOF50,000 respectively.

In the event, the insured dies or is crippled in the accident, a capital of XOF500,000 is guaranteed by the insurer.

Séna Akoda

Since last Monday, the Alliance for the Promotion of the Port of Lomé (AP2L) has been in Ouagadougou, in the framework of a meeting to boost trade between the port and Burkina Faso. The information was reported by Sidwaya.info.

The meeting which will close today is themed: “Retaining Lomé port’s clientele in Sahel nations.”  

Participants of the meeting will discuss ways to effectively tackle issues hampering goods transit.

According to Fogan Adegnon, MD of Lomé’s Port Authority and president of A2PL, many initiatives made the port more attractive and performant. These include “installations and equipment for ship handling, construction of bypass routes in Lomé and along the transit corridor, improved safety and maritime security measures, as well as measures to cut incidental expenses in all goods collection circuits.”

For his part, Hervé Sébastien Ilboudo, representative of Burkinabe business operators, deplored “insufficient beacons, the double collection of the electronic cargo tracking slip (BESC) and truck congestion.”

However, he welcomed the meeting saying: “This meeting with the authorities of the port of Lomé is the right place to find adequate solutions to ease trade.”

Séna Akoda

In 2018, Togo received $440.3 million of official development assistance, according to Christophe Akpoto, Head of bilateral cooperation. This, he revealed yesterday as the 2018 report on ODA was released.

The amount is 12.9% up compared to 2017 when the funds amounted to $389.85 million.

In detail, most of the monies provided to the country last year came from the World Bank (21%), Exim Bank of China (12%), Germany (11%), the European Union (12%), Japan (8%), BOAD (7%), AFD (6%) and AfDB (4%).

After Germany and Japan which are the countries that provide most ODAs to Togo, France is next.

Funds received by the country, according to Atokpo were injected in all three axes of the national development plan, with axis 3 (fostering human development and inclusion) capturing the largest share, $243.75 million. Next was axis 1 and 2 with respectively about $135 million and $61 million. While the former focuses on making Togo a logistics and financial hub, the latter concentrates on industrial development.

By a decree passed at the recent council of ministers held last Saturday, Togo’s General State Inspectorate (IGE) now has a permanent obligation to control, audit, investigate and promote the good management of public finances.

The institution, according to the same decree, has also been placed under presidential authority. The decision translates the government’s efforts to ensure that Togo meets both regional and international standards relative to public finance audit and control.    

Moreover, the recently adopted decree clearly defines IGE’s attributes and responsibilities, stating that it adds to the public court of audit which is also in charge of assessing public finance management.

Séna Akoda

Last Wednesday, actors of Togo’s agricultural sector discussed in Lomé the implementation in Togo of the Agroecological Transition Support Project in West Africa (PATAE).

The project aims to spur agricultural practices which will help preserve and restore both exploited and natural ecosystems while improving yields of family farms, subsequently boosting food security, revenues of households and better prepare them against climate change.

According to the Togolese ministry of agriculture, PATAE aligns with “the joint agricultural strategy to foster innovative practices for optimal ecologic processes in relation to agricultural production as well as food and nutritional security across ECOWAS.”

In Togo, three projects have been picked and launched following a call for proposals. These cover mostly the Plateaux, Central and Savanes regions and will extend over four years.

PATAE benefits from the European Union’s technical and financial support. Other countries adhering to the program are Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and Senegal.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi