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

In Togo, Lomé’s biggest market will be rebuilt. An international tender has been launched to this end by the procurement cell at the prime minister’s office.

Only 17 companies can bid for the project which is divided into four parts, knowingly: site development, leveling, major works; secondary works; network installation, high and low power, carpentry and metalworks.  

Interested companies have until October 29, 2019, to submit their bids, either via mail or physically at the Prime Minister’s office.

Initially expected to cost about XOF7 billion, reconstruction works are now expected to cost “around XOF22 billion, following architectural and execution studies which also took into account all actors’ observations,” according to La Tribune.

A technical visit is projected for next September 27.

 Séna Akoda

Lomé is currently holding a three-day regional meeting gathering nine West African Francophone countries and top-level experts in the framework of a meeting of the West African Health Organization (WAHO).

The theme of the event which began on September 17 is: “How to achieve universal health coverage faster? Community health officers, a key link.” Through the meeting, the OOAS and other participants will look into how public health officers can contribute to the achievement of this goal by 2030.

“Participants will not only mutually share their experience on how to reinforce community agents, but also assess how measures are initiated, how the parliament can support the project, and how other sectors can be involved, in each country,” said Keita Lamidou, representative of the OOAS.

Togo is the first to rely (since 2011) on the community health officers in the framework of this health strategy.

The meeting is financed by the USAID, through the Health Policy Plus (HP+) project. So, major attendants are representatives of the US embassy in Togo, and of the World Health Organization’s office in Togo.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

A Burundian delegation from the Rural Microcredit Fund (FMCR) is currently in Togo, precisely at the National Fund for Inclusive Finance (FNFI), to tap into the country’s experience relative to inclusive finance.

In effect, the mission’s goal is to learn from Togo’s good practices in terms of financial inclusion, in line with Burundi’s ambition to develop new types of financial products. According to the FNFI, the FMCR’s should, in the long run, meet the needs of Burundi’s economic operators.

Let’s recall that the FMCR already visited Togo for a similar mission. The first time was in September 2014 where both institutions’ heads shared their experience.

Also, in March 2019, it should be noted, Gabon had expressed interest in learning from Togo, still regarding its expertise in inclusive finance.

Séna Akoda

From Sept. 30 to Oct. 1, 2019, a country-level meeting on information and appropriation of the SDG 13 and 14 is to take place in Lomé. This was announced by the Francophone Africa Maritime Cluster (CMAF).

The event is themed: “Better understanding of SDG13 and 14 to contribute to the sustainable development of the blue economy.” It will “help turn various participants and CMAF members into engaged and committed contributors” towards the two goals’ achievement.  

In detail, SDG13 urges States to take immediate measures to tackle climate change and its impacts. As for SDG14, it calls States and other development actors to preserve and exploit oceans, sea surfaces and maritime resources sustainably.

CMAF let’s recall, regroups actors of the maritime ecosystem and of the industry providing maritime services of all sorts. “Its establishment in Lomé directly aligns with the ambition of Togolese authorities to make the country a top-class logistics hub.”

Séna Akoda

Tchitchabalo Songaï N'dassim is the new head of the National Fund for Inclusive Finance (FNFI). The economist and financier who was previously the consultant for microfinance institutions assumed his new position at the beginning of this week.

The newly appointed Managing Director will have as main objectives the pursuit and expansion of a program launched a few years ago and which falls in line with the third axis of the national development plan (PND 2018-2019).

The program concerned aims at developing innovative, yet adapted, strategies to meet needs for financial services of the country’s least favored populations. It focuses in this framework mainly on women and youth, and particularly on agriculture, with products like AGRISEF (Access to Financial Services for Farmers), PAS-AGRISEF, and PNPER (National Project for the Promotion of Rural Entrepreneurship).

In this regard, the Togolese institution seems to have picked the interest of some other African countries, namely Gabon and Burundi.

Ayi  Renaud Dossavi

ECOWAS has adopted a $1 billion five-year (2020-2024) plan to fight terrorism in the sub-region, Togo included. This was disclosed after an extraordinary summit of ECOWAS heads of State, last Saturday.

The new plan is based on eight strategic axes. Mauritania and Chad, two non-ECOWAS states are also adhering to the plan as they battle against terrorists as well.

Funds needed for the plan’s implementation will be mobilized at the national level, by all adhering countries.

In effect, the plan aims at accelerating harmonization and coordination of efforts of concerned States to tackle terrorism, direct sharing of information between these States, as well as training and equipping actors fighting the threat.  

Besides developing key investment programs in fragile zones, the plan should reinforce actions of the G5 Sahel joint forces and identify sources of financing of terrorism in the region, such as drug trafficking.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi