• Kodjo Sévon-Tépé Adedze, former Speaker of the National Assembly, was appointed Minister of Territorial Planning, Urbanism, and Housing, heading a “super ministry” at the center of Togo’s new government.
• Three delegate ministers report directly to him, including former Finance Minister Sani Yaya, signaling a major reshuffle to accelerate infrastructure and housing reforms.
• Adedze faces critical policy challenges, including addressing a 500,000-unit housing deficit and improving access to water and sanitation, currently at 70% in cities and 40% in rural areas.

Togo’s President of the Council Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé appointed Kodjo Sévon-Tépé Adedze as Minister of Territorial Planning, Urbanism, and Housing on October 8, 2025, elevating the former National Assembly speaker to one of the most powerful roles in the country’s new government structure.

The new “super ministry” consolidates oversight of public works, housing, water, and local development, positioning Adedze at the center of policy coordination for national infrastructure and urban growth.

Under Adedze’s direct supervision, three high-profile ministers will lead specialized portfolios: Sani Yaya, former Minister of Economy and Finance for nearly seven years, will oversee Public Works and Infrastructure ;  Koamy Gomado, a former member of the opposition ANC party, will manage Local Development and Séna Alipui, from the opposition UFC party, will take charge of Water and Sanitation.

This configuration gives Adedze broad authority over transport, housing, and essential public services — all strategic levers of the administration’s priority programs.

At 63, Adedze brings decades of experience in Togo’s public administration. A customs inspector by training, he graduated from ENA and the National Customs School of Neuilly-sur-Seine before joining the civil service in 1988.

He rose through the ranks to become Director General of Customs, later serving as Commissioner of Customs and Indirect Duties, and eventually as Commissioner General of the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) following the departure of Rwandan technocrat Gaperi.

Entering government in 2019, Adedze successively held portfolios in Trade, Industry, Local Consumption, and Urbanism and Land Reform before being elected Speaker of the National Assembly in June 2024.

According to reports from the IMF and the World Bank, Adedze’s new ministry faces urgent challenges: making public investment in infrastructure more efficient; reducing a housing deficit exceeding 500,000 units, requiring 15,000 new homes annually; improving urban and rural access to water and sanitation.

Urban coverage currently stands at 70%, compared to only 40% in rural areas.

The ministry will also steer urban and land planning, advance decentralization, and support local development projects, particularly in fast-growing municipalities.

Among Adedze’s flagship projects is the 20,000 affordable housing program, backed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), expected to benefit over 100,000 people. The pilot site of Kpomé-Dalavé, spanning 1,100 hectares, reflects the government’s strategy for planned urbanization and inclusive growth.

International financial institutions have urged Togo to better target capital spending, accelerate road maintenance, and modernize land governance to enhance economic efficiency. The overarching goal is to turn territorial development into a key driver of private-sector-led growth through public-private partnerships (PPPs).

This article was initially published in French by Fiacre E. Kakpo

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• UNIDO will assist Togo in implementing its national industrialization strategy, aligned with the government’s 2025 Roadmap.
• The partnership will focus on agro-industry, textiles, and local product processing, as well as industrial park development and SME financing.
• A Country Partnership Programme (PCP) is under consideration to strengthen industrial competitiveness and youth and women employment.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will support Togo in executing its national industrialization agenda, following a meeting on October 8, 2025, between President of the Council Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé and Tidiane Boyé, UNIDO’s resident representative for Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Niger, and Togo.

The discussions focused on ways to accelerate Togo’s industrial ambitions, which center on the Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA) — a flagship project launched in 2021 to drive manufacturing-led growth.

Under the new cooperation framework, UNIDO plans to assist Togo in modernizing key industrial sectors, including agro-processing, textiles, and local product transformation. These sectors are identified as priority areas under the government’s 2025 Development Roadmap.

The organization also aims to foster a business-friendly environment by promoting quality standards, certification systems, and industrial competitiveness, while enhancing the institutional capacity of national agencies responsible for industrial development.

“We have received the President’s orientations regarding his priorities, notably the promotion of youth and women’s employment and the facilitation of access for Togolese products to regional and international markets,” said Tidiane Boyé after the meeting.

The UN agency’s support aligns with Togo’s goal to expand export-driven industrialization while increasing domestic value addition.

According to the Presidency of the Council, UNIDO is preparing to assist Togo through a Country Partnership Programme (PCP) aligned with national priorities. The initiative will focus on developing industrial parks; promoting innovative energy solutions; and facilitating financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

UNIDO also expressed its willingness to collaborate on projects promoting youth and women entrepreneurship, a key pillar of the government’s inclusive growth strategy.

This article was initially published in French by Esaie Edoh 

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Togo will be one of the 21 nations competing in the new edition of the World Bread Contest (Mondial du Pain), scheduled for October 19 to 22, 2025, in Nantes, France.

The country will be represented by a three-person team of bakers led by Chef Marcel Kodzo Dodzi Gbafa-Wona, a renowned artisan and experienced trainer.

The Togolese delegation intends to showcase local expertise, creativity, and precision in line with the competition’s demands. "My team and I will have to create various products, traditional and innovative breads, viennoiseries, and an artistic piece, within a limited time, while meeting specific criteria for taste, technical skill, and presentation," explained Chef Gbafa-Wona. "We will highlight local products such as sorghum, cassava, sweet potato, and cocoa."

A veteran of international contests, the Togolese chef has previously represented the nation at similar events, helping to raise the profile of the country's artisanal excellence. For him, participation in the World Bread Contest extends beyond the competition itself. It aims to provide new visibility for the Togolese bakery and establish the country within the circle of nations recognized for their craft.

This ambition is set to continue in 2026, with Togo planning to participate in the Chocolatine World Cup, also held in France. "That will be an opportunity to continue showcasing our expertise and, above all, to promote Togolese chocolate, whose exceptional quality deserves international recognition," Chef Gbafa-Wona noted.

• The University of Kara convened over 700 researchers from 17 countries for its 6th International Scientific Conference, focusing on youth employability and university curriculum reform.

• Togo’s Higher Education Minister called for African universities to adapt teaching models to local economic needs and promote scientific sovereignty.

• The conference aims to produce actionable recommendations to align higher education with labor market demands and improve competitiveness for graduates.

Togo’s University of Kara opened the 6th International Scientific Conference on October 6, 2025, emphasizing youth employability and the adaptation of university programs to labor market needs. The event runs through October 10 and brings together over 700 researchers from 17 African and European countries.

The conference theme, “Today's and Tomorrow’s Professions: Sovereignty, Interdisciplinarity, and University Training Challenges,” frames discussions on aligning education with sustainable development and economic priorities.

Minister of Higher Education and Research Kanka-Malik Natchaba urged African universities to revise pedagogical models to better serve local economies. “University education must move beyond external orientation to address sustainable development challenges,” he said, stressing the importance of scientific sovereignty.

The opening keynote, focused on mathematics as a driver of innovation, reinforced the push to integrate science into educational and industrial policy.

University of Kara President Grace Prénam Hozou-Mouzou highlighted the conference’s role as a collaborative platform to anticipate labor market shifts. Delegates aim to develop concrete recommendations to improve the match between higher education and employment, enhancing the competitiveness of Togolese and African graduates.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• Togo’s CNSS extends Universal Health Insurance (AMU) to self-employed workers, including artisans, farmers, traders, and individual entrepreneurs.

• The program uses a flexible, advance-contribution system ranging from CFA10,000 to CFA102,000 annually, covering preventive, curative, and hospital care for up to six dependents.

• CNSS launches a digital platform to facilitate online enrollment and payment, aiming to increase coverage of the informal sector, a critical component of Togo’s economy.

Togo’s National Social Security Fund (CNSS) officially expanded its Universal Health Insurance program (AMU) to non-salaried workers on October 7, 2025, in Lomé. The extension targets thousands of self-employed actors in the informal economy, previously excluded from formal health coverage.

CNSS Director-General Ingrid Awadé described the reform as “a social justice imperative and a lever for sustainable development.” She emphasized that the move aligns with the government’s vision of universal social protection, now encompassing the informal sector, which constitutes a significant portion of Togo’s economy.

The AMU for self-employed workers operates on a flexible, advance-payment system. Contributors may pay 10,000 FCFA per month, CFA28,500 per quarter, CFA54,000 per semester, or CFA102,000 per year. A 90-day waiting period precedes access to benefits.

The scheme covers up to six dependents and provides preventive, curative, and hospital care, along with partial coverage for laboratory tests and essential medications. CNSS suspends benefits after two months of non-payment to maintain program sustainability.

To simplify participation, CNSS launched a digital platform accessible via its website and mobile apps. The platform enables self-employed workers to register, contribute, and manage payments online, supporting broader financial inclusion and streamlined administration.

This article was iniitally published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• Togo will install 10 new agro-processing units under the Sahel Food and Nutrition Security Resilience Program (P2-P2RS).
• The African Development Bank is financing the project with $6 million through its Transition Support Facility.
• The initiative targets rice milling, fruit and vegetable packaging, refrigeration, and composting to strengthen food security and boost farmer incomes.

The Togolese government has announced plans to build 10 new agro-processing units under the Sahel Food and Nutrition Security Resilience Program (P2-P2RS). The Ministry of Agriculture, Village Hydraulics, and Rural Development has issued a call for expressions of interest to recruit a consultancy firm to conduct feasibility studies for the facilities.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) will finance the project through its Transition Support Facility, with funding of 4.5 million Units of Account (about $6 million). Officials said the project aligns with Togo’s national strategy to add value to agricultural products.

The new units will focus on processing paddy rice into white rice, packaging and labeling vegetables, refrigerating fruits and vegetables, and producing compost. Authorities said the facilities aim to improve supply chains and strengthen resilience against food insecurity.

The consultancy will assess value chains, technical and financial feasibility, site selection, management models, and potential public-private partnership mechanisms. The objective is to ensure economic and social sustainability while attracting private investment.

Stakeholders said the project will reinforce Togo’s food security and create regional agro-industrial hubs. By linking production, processing, and marketing, the initiative is expected to raise incomes for local producers and stimulate rural development.

This article was initially published in French by R.E.D

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Togo began revising its national strategy for implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on October 6. The Ministry of Trade, Handicrafts, and Local Consumption organized a three-day workshop in Lomé to update the framework.

The meeting gathered public, private, and civil society stakeholders. Authorities asked participants to propose adjustments to the existing plan and identify priority actions. A diagnostic of the current strategy is underway to assess shortcomings since the continental agreement took effect.

Officials said the updated strategy will enable Togolese businesses to benefit more from AfCFTA protocols. These include agreements on goods, competition, intellectual property, e-commerce, investment, and the participation of women and youth in intra-African trade.

Mensah Koffi Vinyo, chief of staff at the Ministry of Trade, said, “The AfCFTA is not a simple trade agreement but one of the most ambitious projects on the continent, aiming to create a single market of 1.4 billion consumers with a combined GDP estimated at more than $3 trillion.” He called the initiative “a historic opportunity for Togo,” citing potential gains in competitiveness, investment, and job creation for youth and women.

Serge Yapo, head of the UN Systems Office in Togo, said the revision strengthens the country’s position to capture Africa’s growth prospects under the AfCFTA. He cited expected increases of 41.1% in agri-food trade, 39.2% in services, 39% in industrial products, and 16.1% in energy and mining.

The current strategy (2019–2024) delivered notable progress, according to Togolese authorities. The government has taken multiple steps to help local businesses benefit from AfCFTA opportunities. Officials said the new plan will build on these gains to deepen participation in continental trade.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Company registrations in Togo fell slightly in the first nine months of 2025, despite government reforms aimed at boosting entrepreneurship.

A total of 3,352 new businesses were registered in the third quarter, bringing the January-September total to 11,099, according to CFE data compiled by Togo First.

This represents a 7.3% year-on-year decline compared with the same period in 2024, when 11,979 companies were registered, marking a slowdown after steady growth between 2021 and 2024.

Quarterly data show that the decline deepened through the year: 4,262 companies were registered in the first quarter, 3,485 in the second, and 3,352 in the third.

The downturn is largely due to fewer new ventures by Togolese nationals. In the first half of 2025, citizens founded 6,195 businesses, down about 7% from 6,615 during the same period in 2024.

The trend comes despite ongoing reforms designed to simplify registration procedures, reduce costs and delays, and promote entrepreneurship through digitization and incentive programs aimed at expanding the formal economy.

Esaïe Edoh