Lomé has allocated CFA4 billion to the country’s first Regional Councils, established earlier this year as part of ongoing decentralization efforts. Koumtchané Siangou, Technical Secretary for the management of the Fonds d'appui aux collectivités territoriales (FACT), announced the funding on May 21 during a press briefing in Lomé.

FACT mobilized this funding to help the new regional councils start operations. The money will pay for staff salaries, councilor allowances, and the costs of setting up decentralized regional administrations. 

The government will also use these resources to launch the first major investments in the regions. These projects aim to boost local economic development and support the government’s vision to turn regions into growth poles.

The CFA4 billion from the state is just the start; local authorities must add their resources and attract support from technical and financial partners.

Since the regional councils took office, FACT has reserved a dedicated share for them. For 2025, the national budget allocates CFA10 billion FCFA to FACT. The fund receives money from the state, rebates from the  Togolese Revenue Office, and contributions from international partners.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English byAnge Jason Quenum

The Golfe 7 municipality in Lomé, Togo, is drafting a Municipal Development Plan (PDC) to steer local development over the next five years. The plan will establish a strategic framework for participatory budgeting and development.

A workshop was held on May 20 in the capital to kick off the process. The meeting brought together elected officials, civil society representatives, technical partners, and experts. 

At the opening of the workshop, Mayor Aimé Dikounou declared: “Our ambition is to build a community that is resilient, supportive, and focused on sustainable development.”

The PDC will address nine priority areas outlined by Togo’s decentralization law, including urban planning, environment, sanitation, water, education, and participatory governance.

Consultant Paul Amégakpo said the process will rely on a participatory diagnosis to identify local priorities, estimate costs, and develop programs with monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Once approved, the plan will guide public and private investments and help mobilize resources to improve living conditions.

The project is part of the EU-funded Projet d'Appui au Dialogue entre Citoyens et Élus sur les Politiques Publiques dans la Commune de Golfe 7 (PADCEP-Golfe7), which aims to strengthen dialogue between citizens and elected officials.

Golfe 7, also known as Aflao Sagbado, is located northwest of Lomé and comprises 26 villages with a population of over 100,000.

With this initiative, Golfe 7 joins 63 other communes in Togo that have adopted Municipal Development Plans amid a national push for improved territorial planning and local governance.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Six West African countries are meeting in Lomé, Togo, to strengthen cooperation against illegal fishing in the Gulf of Guinea, a region vital to local economies and food security.

Representatives from Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria gathered on May 19 for a three-day summit organized by the West Central Gulf of Guinea Fisheries Committee (CPCO). The meeting aimed to develop coordinated measures to address the economic and environmental damage caused by unauthorized fishing vessels, including many foreign ships.

Illegal fishing has led to significant economic losses, job cuts, and the degradation of marine ecosystems across the region. To tackle these challenges, CPCO members are considering the establishment of a regional register of authorized vessels. This tool would centralize data, harmonize enforcement efforts, and enable real-time monitoring of fishing activities.

The committee also discussed implementing a strict biological rest period to allow fish stocks to recover.

“It was time to draw up a regional fisheries regime based on a common roadmap,” said CPCO advisor Kossi Ahoedo.

During the meeting, Togo emphasized its commitment to leading the initiative to ensure the sustainable economic development of its coastal zones.

The meeting ended on May 21.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Togo recently started a study to demarcate road rights-of-way and classify its national road network. The Permanent Secretariat for Monitoring and Evaluating Public Policies disclosed the news.

According to the source, a report, the study will cost CFA165 million and will be conducted in two phases by specialist firms. The first phase will cover the Maritime and Plateaux regions for CFA85 million, and the second will cover the Central, Kara, and Savanes regions for CFA80 million.

The initiative follows the validation of a preliminary outline project report in September 2024. The Ministry of Infrastructure reported that by the end of December 2024, the project had reached 60% physical progress with 51% financial consumption for each firm.

The Togolese government seeks to update the normative framework for managing the national road network, which dates back to 1968. Authorities said the current framework is outdated and does not meet modern needs or technical service requirements for right-of-way development and management.

The project also aims to classify roads according to their nature and use, facilitating road identification, intervention planning, and public awareness about the use of neighboring areas.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

A delegation from Mali’s telecommunications regulator, the AMRTP, visited Togo last week to exchange knowledge on telecom service quality governance.

The visit focused on the Quality Management System (QMS) implemented by the Togolese telecom watchdog, the ARCEP. This system, certified in September 2023 and audited in September 2024, aims to improve organizational efficiency through continuous process improvement.

Led by AMRTP Executive Secretary Abdoulaye Coulibaly, the Malian delegation reviewed Togo’s best practices in planning and managing telecom services. Both regulators agreed to strengthen their bilateral agreement to facilitate mobility between the two countries and promote regional integration through technical cooperation and capacity building.

Mali’s engagement with Togo reflects a broader regional trend of adopting improved governance models in the telecommunications sector.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

In Dapaong, Savanes region, the Gens des Médias de la région des Savanes (GEMESA) association launched a community resilience program on May 15  aimed at improving economic access for young people and rural women.

The project, funded with over CFA272 million by Luxembourg’s Action Solidarité Tiers Monde (ASTM), will run from 2025 to 2029. It targets the prefectures of Cinkassé, Kpendjal-Ouest, Tône, Tandjouaré, and Oti.

The initiative supports cooperatives, school press clubs, and groups involved in cultural and economic activities. The program seeks to include young people and women in local decision-making and strengthen social cohesion through rural entrepreneurship.

Commenting on the initiative, Lalle Tani, GEMESA’s director, noted that “Young people and women are often marginalised in development decisions,” despite playing a crucial role in socio-economic transformation. The project relies on their ability to generate income and lead cultural initiatives.

The program complements ongoing efforts by the Togolese government and its partners under the Emergency Programme for the Savannah Region (PURS), which seeks to bolster resilience among vulnerable populations facing security and economic challenges in Northern Togo.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Togolese political leaders convened on May 19 to review preparations for the upcoming communal elections scheduled for July 10. The meeting took place during the 20th session of the Permanent Consultation Framework (CPC), a forum aimed at facilitating dialogue among political actors.

Chaired by Mr. Tchassona Traoré, the session focused on assessing the electoral process and making necessary adjustments ahead of the vote.
Reducing the deposit

One of the meeting’s key outcomes was a consensus to reduce the electoral deposit, with a proposal to halve the fee for women candidates to encourage greater female participation across the 117 communes involved.

A budget of CFA500 million

Delegates also discussed public funding for political parties, describing the current budget of CFA500 million as insufficient given the anticipated number of candidates. They called for an increase in funding to better support election campaigns.

The issue of residence certificates, which has been subject to varying interpretations, was also addressed. Minister for Territorial Administration Hodabalo Awaté said a directive to harmonize procedures would be issued to mayors.

Further meetings are planned to finalize arrangements ahead of the elections.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

The African Guarantee and Economic Cooperation Fund (FAGACE) concluded a working visit to Lomé on May 16. The visit aimed to boost cooperation with financial institutions in Togo, officials said.

The visit occured during Meet-Up Finances Togo, a week-long series of technical and strategic meetings focused on financing local economies.

During the mission, FAGACE signed or renewed partnership agreements with several banks, as well as management and intermediation companies (SGI) active in Togo. The agreements aim to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and development projects with significant economic impact.

With SGI-Togo, FAGACE aims to promote access to the regional bond market for companies while mitigating investor risks. The fund also began discussions with local banks, including BDM-Togo, UTB, BOA-Togo, and Coris Bank Togo, to better address the financing needs of businesses, particularly SMEs.

FAGACE expects the new partnerships to boost its impact across the region. The Fund wants to help build a more inclusive and resilient financial ecosystem that matches the priorities of its member states. 

Active in 14 African countries, FAGACE provides guarantees to financial institutions to facilitate SME credit access. It also supports the economic and social policies of its member states.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

The government of Togo has introduced a free training program aimed at young people aged 18 to 35 to develop skills in emerging digital professions.

The initiative, launched in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), seeks to equip a new generation of content creators and digital communicators with practical skills.

The program offers five modules covering content creation for social media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, mobile journalism, web writing and search engine optimization (SEO), influencer marketing, and fact-checking.

Supported by the Ministry of Grassroots Development and UNDP-Togo, the two-month training targets young individuals passionate about digital technology, social media, or media careers. Applicants may apply for one module only.

Interested candidates must submit their applications online by May 25, 2025.