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

On Sept. 19, 2019, a council of ministers was held in Lomé to revise the 2019 budget for the country.

According to the meeting’s minutes, the budget has been scaled up by 2.8%, from XOF1,461 billion initially, to 1,501.9 billion. Budget rectifications take into account structural reforms needed to improve public spending management.

In addition, some policies of the General Tax Code have been amended to spur the implementation of the 2018-2022 national development plan.

Séna Akoda

On September 18, Togolese authorities held in Lomé a meeting to review procurement systems based on the MAPS methodology. MAPS is a universal tool which promotes and accelerates the implementation of modern, sustainable and more inclusive procurement systems.

The recent review takes place after another conducted in 2016. The latter, while lauding Togo’s procurement system, at legislative, regulatory and institutional levels, pointed out issues with behaviors of contracting entities, commented Koffi Tofio, cabinet chief at the ministry of economy and finance.

According to the official, one of the system’s shortcomings is an unusually long delay for procurement. “All actors involved in procurement process must assess their responsibility in regard to this issue. Such obstacles cannot persist. It is not acceptable. Especially in a context where the government does everything to modernize the public finance sector, with multiple reforms,” Tofio declared.

Séna Akoda

Last Tuesday, security and border experts of the Council of the Entente regrouping Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, and Togo, met in Lomé to elaborate new regulations to reinforce defense and security in the above-mentioned States.

The documents will be submitted to respective leaders of the Council’s States at the fourth annual meeting of Government and State leaders which is to take place tomorrow in the Togolese capital.

“Over the past five years, the Espace Entente has suffered multiple terrorist attacks, and that is exactly why we decided to focus on their prevention,” said Moko Issa, Director of the Department of Political Cooperation, Peace and Security at the Council of Entente.

Policies elaborated at the meeting aim to also spur cooperation between the council’s member States, to strategically tackle terrorist threats.

Tomorrow’s reunion it must be noted follows another held last week by ECOWAS members, plus Mauritania and Chad, during which they decided to implement a five-year plan to fight terrorism in the region.

Ayi Renaud Dossav

Yesterday, Togo’s chamber of commerce (CCIT) signed with the African Solidarity Fund (ASF) a partnership agreement to improve access to bank financing for business operators.

This was on the sidelines of a forum that regrouped industrialists, entrepreneurs, merchants and many others. The forum’s theme was: “Facilitating Access to Bank Financing for Togolese Businesses by Leveraging Operational Instruments of the African Solidarity Fund.”

According to Affo Dédji, ASF’s country representative, the agreement’s signing aligns with AFSF’s strategies to support businesses in African countries.

For CCIT’s president, Germain Mèba, the agreement should enable business operators to readily secure bank funding, through the ASF’s intervention mechanisms, such as financial guarantee, refinancing, and enhanced interest rate.

Let’s recall that last June, Sani Yaya, Togo’s minister of finance, had reached out to the ASF to finance the country’s 2018-2022 national development plan.

Séna Akoda

Togo and the permanent secretariat of the International Labour Organization (ILO) have inked an agreement to improve access to decent jobs in the country, with a focus on youth, women, and the disabled. 

The agreement, a memorandum of understanding, falls under the Decent Work Country-Programme. It was signed yesterday in Lomé, by the government, the employers’ association, and ILO. While the government was represented by the minister of public works, Gilbert Bawara, ILO’s representative was its country director in Abidjan, Dramane Haidara.

“This new program, which is the fruit of a dynamic and inclusive process, revolves around many priorities, in line with the PND’s strategic objectives for a strong, sustainable and shared economic and social inclusion,” said the Togolese minister.

The program will be steered by the Togolese government, via a tri-partite committee in charge of its monitoring and evaluation.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi