Togo First
Togo : BOAD raised CFA1.3 billion for clean energies, in 2017
In 2017, the West African Development Bank (BOAD) secured CFA1.3 billion of grants from the Global Environment Fund (GEF) for clean energies development in Togo. This was disclosed by the institution’s president, Christian Adovèlandé, ahead of the 45th anniversary of the bank.
The financing was provided to “boost Climate projects that are likely to benefit from funding falling under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change," Adovèlandé added.
By 2021, the Lomé-based Bank aims to bring to CFA50 billion, funds mobilized for climate and clean energies.
Let it be noted that by 2030, Togo plans to increase renewables’ share in its energy mix to 50%.
Fiacre E. Kakpo
Eléonore Lazat (Bloomberg): “Developing a regulatory framework is the starting point for a strong growth”
Last Friday, Eleonore Lazat, head of the Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) mission recently in Togo to collect data for the 2018 Climatescope report, was received by officials from the ministry of environment and forest resources. This was the last day of the mission in the country and on this occasion, Lazat told the minister’s cabinet director and others concerned by the study, about its impact on Togo’s clean energies sector.
Following this meeting, she agreed to answer some of our questions.
Togo First: Why did Bloomberg decide to pick Togo for its 2018 Climatescope report ?
Eléonore Lazat: The Climatescope’s mission is to collect data on and assess the clean energy sector in Togo. Once the data is secured, we can release them on a transparent, public platform which can be accessed by the private sector and developed nations that invest and seek new opportunities in markets they are not used to, like Togo. We wish to, as transparently and systematically possible, explain what goes on in Togo, in the renewable energies sector.
Togo First: Now that you have seen the state of things, do you think Togo is on the right path, looking at what has been done and targets?
Eléonore Lazat: Yes, of course, Togo is on the right path. But I must say it is barely starting on this road. There is a strong political will to achieve things. That is really impressive as it rarely happens elsewhere. The whole government, all ministries are working to boost the country’s clean energy production. In fact, a law was put in place for clean energies.
We also heard of investment codes that provide incentives to investors in this sector. A related regulatory framework is being developed. What is lacking now, is attracting private capitals.
Personally, I think this framework is being established and that is a good point to start from, it is the good way to attract investments and projects. Also, the first projects will pave the way, we hope, for more investments. Developing a regulatory framework is the starting point for a strong growth. However, efforts must be sustained to get there.
Fiacre E. Kakpo
“In the past five years, mobile penetration rate in Togo has soared by 700%” - Cina Lawson (at VivaTech)
Togo, like all other countries of the West African Monetary Union (WAEMU), is going through a true mobile revolution.
According to the country’s minister of posts and digital economy, Cina Lawson, who is currently attending the 2018 VivaTech Paris Conference with 10 Togolese startups, “in the past five years, mobile penetration rate in Togo has soared by 700%”.
The official made this statement during the “Tech for Africa” roundtable held May 24, with various other important figures.
Fiacre E. Kakpo
Togo: OTR launches census to build a land inventory
May 25, the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR-Office Togolais des Recettes) launched at its headquarters in Lomé, a national census to develop a land inventory. This was disclosed to the press by tax commissioner, Adoyi Esso-Wavana Ahmed.
According to the commissioner, before collecting land tax, it is important to have crucial information about the given land, such as the name of its true owner or its usage; is it for a business or just a habitation? Those are the details that will be found in the inventory.
The project will cover non-built properties, administrative buildings, and more.
In effect, starting next week, census agents trained solely for this mission will be deployed (with an ID badge) across the country, to get relevant data.
Beyond the need for a land inventory, the census aims at updating land data related to business operators. Moreover, data collected should help ease addressing in Lomé, and enable OTR develop a digital cadaster.
The campaign is to last three months in Lomé and will then be extended to other parts of the country.
Séna Akoda
Cina Lawson leads about 10 local startups to 2018 VivaTech Conference
A group of ten Togolese startups led by the minister of posts and digital economy, Cina Lawson, is currently in Paris for the Vivatech conference, which is under the patronage of French President, Emmanuel Macron.
“I came with about ten entrepreneurs who develop many apps. I would like to congratulate them for their constant genius,” the minister said in a tweet, adding that she is “proud to see Togo so well represented at such a big tech rendezvous”.
This third edition of the event puts Africa forward, with a space especially dedicated to about 100 African startups. The Togolese delegation will have the chance to meet major global actors of the tech industry.
Already, Cina Lawson met with Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagamé, and UBA’s CEO, Tony Elumelu. She also had discussions with Edem Fiadjoe, CEO of JetSolutions, and Helton Yawovi, CEO of DashmakeStartup, two young Togolese of the diaspora.
It is important to indicate that President Macron has already promised to disburse €65 million for African startups, at the conference.
Clean Energy: Bloomberg mission in Togo, in the framework of 2018 Climatescope report
A mission from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), a U.S. research firm that helps energy actors study investment niches and opportunities, is actually in Togo. The mission which came on May 23 will leave on May 25.
It came to collect data for its 2018 Climatescope annual report. The latter looks at the profile of about 100 nations and assesses their capacity to attract investment into clean energy, or more generally low-carbon energy sources.
Last Wednesday, the mission which is led by Eléonore Lazare was at the Presidency to start technical works related to the study. This was in the presence of top officials from the energy sector, development partners, actors of the private sectors and NGOs.
The meeting which was presided by the national coordinator of the business climate cell (CCA), Sandra Johnson, helped various involved actors know more about the Climatescope and understand its importance for Togo, regarding renewable energies development.
The study is based on a questionnaire submitted to power actors; it looks at four parameters which are: Enabling framework, clean energy investment and climate financing, low-carbon business and clean energy value chains, greenhouse gas management activities.
“This first featuring of our country in the Climatescope study will help it be ranked among references in terms of clean energy, and identify investment opportunities there are in this sector,” Sandra Johnson said. “The study will also help us determine priorities to make Togo more efficient and competitive in areas related to the development of clean energy, such as investment framework, both legal and fiscal, technology, energy market organization, funding and partnership strategies…,” she added.
Togo being featured in Climatescope now is quite fortunate, considering its 2030 clean energy development plan which requires no less than $460 million (CFA258 billion) to be implemented.
Fiacre E. Kakpo
Togo’s employers association adopts new 5-year strategic plan to boost private sector
Last Wednesday, Togo’s employers association (Conseil national du patronat –CNP Togo) validated in Lomé its 2018-2022 strategic plan. This plan will cost CFA5 billion and support firms towards sustainable growth.
“This plan will help CNP-Togo overcome challenges that will arise in the years to come while analyzing social and economic environments and to anticipate and adapt to changes in order to foster the growth of its members,” said Laurent Coami Tamegnon, head of the association, during the validation ceremony which was presided by the minister of trade and private sector promotion, Bernadette Legzim-Balouki.
The official, that day, urged top executives of CNP-Togo to make sure the strategic plan is effectively implemented, reassuring them that government would, for its part, keep putting in place reforms to make private sector the driver of economic growth.
CNP-Togo’s 2018-2022 strategic plan was financially supported by the International Labor Bureau (ILB).
Fiacre E. Kakpo
Togo: Health-accident and car insurances contributed about 70% of monies paid to insured individuals
In Togo, 70% of monies paid to users subscribed to insurance policies, yearly, come from health-accident insurances and car insurances.
Car insurances provide 33% of this value while 36.6% fall under health and accident insurances.
Meanwhile, penetration rate of insurance in the country is quite low, contributing less than 1.5% of GDP. According to the cabinet director of Togolese ministry of finances, Kossi Tofio, who revealed the information, monies paid by insured individuals under their subscribed policies are also very little.
Actually, this trend is not specific to Togo only but is recorded in most member States of the Inter-African Conference of The Insurance Markets (CIMA).
Quite a paradox considering that this market is disputed by 13 firms, including six life insurers, and seven non-life insurers. In 2016, the market helped collect CFA53 billion of insurance premiums.
Séna Akoda
Togo and other African countries get $200 million from world bank to support off grid electrification
The World Bank has granted a funding of $200 million (about CFA110 billion) to 19 West African and Sahel countries, including Togo. This is in the framework of its Regional off-grid electrification project (ROGEP), which aims to provide beneficiaries support to foster a sustainable and scalable off-grid electrification market to meet the electrification needs of unserved populations (remote areas).
Under the project, standalone solar systems will be provided to households, public services, etc.
Funding allocated is divided into two parts. First is $60 million (about CFA33 billion) to organize the electrification market. And second is for a credit line of $140 million (about CFA77 billion) which will be used to support and develop supply and demand for off-grid solar systems. This component should interest solar equipment importers and distributors, as well as these equipment end-users, and households.
ROGEP is to be carried out for over five years, from April 2017 to August 2022. This in two distinct stages, namely: a one-year preparatory stage (already completed) and four years of effective implementation (ongoing).
Séna Akoda
Togo : Social Security Fund (CNSS) goes through digital transformation
Digital transformation. That is what the Togolese Social Security Fund (CNSS in French) relies on to accelerate its processes and improve the quality of its services.
Indeed, the fund which is headed by Ingrid Awadé, launched since November 2017 a major project for digitalization. E-declaration was one of the services falling under this project.
Others such as requests for social mandate, certificates and individual insurance reports, submission of complaints and account verification, can also be done online, on CNSS’ website. Now, it is possible to calculate normal pension and anticipated voluntary pension; this would save employers a lot of time.
Fiacre E. Kakpo