• Togo is establishing its first Marine Protected Area (MPA), covering 950 km².
• The MPA aims to protect rich but vulnerable biodiversity and support local fisheries.
• The project, 10 years in the making, now enters an active phase with support from international partners.

Togo is advancing plans for its first marine protected area (MPA), a project in preparation for a decade. The Ministry of Maritime Economy hosted awareness meetings on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 in Agbodrafo and Aného, engaging fishers, fish traders, NGOs, local authorities, and technical partners to launch an active implementation phase.

The MPA will span approximately 950 km² across the Lacs, Vo, and Zio prefectures. Positioned between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Togo, the area hosts rich but vulnerable biodiversity threatened by overfishing, pollution, and climate change. Authorities aim to conserve mangroves, protect fish stocks, and strengthen local community resilience, while creating opportunities for tourism and research.

Officials said the MPA will serve as a maritime resource reservoir, sustaining artisanal and industrial fisheries—key drivers of coastal employment and income. “The creation of the MPA is not a restriction, but a regulation to ensure resource sustainability,” the ministry emphasized.

The project aligns with Togo’s revised national biodiversity strategy and international conservation commitments. It receives support from multiple partners, including the World Bank via the West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) resilience program, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), WAEMU, IUCN, and FAO.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• Tilitu Lab, an incubator in Kara, Togo, conducted a tax training session for young entrepreneurs on September 30, 2025.
• The training, led by an inspector from the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR), covered tax regimes and compliance for businesses.
• The initiative is part of Tilitu Lab's 2025 incubation program, aiming to help startups build viable businesses and avoid penalties.

Tilitu Lab in Kara organized a training session on Sept. 30, 2025, to equip young entrepreneurs with knowledge of Togo’s tax regimes and legal business obligations, according to ATOP.

Attila Kowami, tax inspector at the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR), led the session. He explained that businesses with annual turnover of CFA0–3 million fall under the flat-rate tax regime, while those with CFA3–6 million adopt the declarative regime, taxed at 8% compared to 2% for flat-rate firms. Very small enterprises receive exemptions during their first two fiscal years. Kowami emphasized the importance of fiscal registration and timely payments.

The training forms part of Tilitu Lab’s 2025 incubation program, which annually supports young innovators. Program leaders highlighted that understanding fiscal mechanisms is essential for building sustainable businesses and avoiding penalties for noncompliance.

“Collaboration with the OTR is a condition of growth for startups,” said Georges Egbaré, coordinator of Tilitu Lab Kara.

Tilitu Lab operates under the Ministry of Grassroots Development and the Youth Economic Initiatives Support Fund (FAIEJ). It is one of five public incubators established by the government to promote entrepreneurship across Togo.

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Togo’s public debt-to-GDP ratio fell to 65% by the end of June 2025, down from 69% at the close of 2024, according to figures presented at the third session of the National Credit Council (CNC), chaired by Economy and Finance Minister Essowè Georges Barcola. The level remains below the 70% ceiling set by the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).

Economic Resilience

 Minister Barcola said Togo’s economic indicators remain robust. Growth for 2025 is projected at around 6.3%, driven by all sectors, with services making a notable contribution.

The financial sector also showed strength in the first half, with bank credit up 22%. The cost of credit continued to decline as banks cleaned up their portfolios. The CNC, however, urged financial institutions to improve customer service and complaint handling.

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) remain a weak spot, with the council warning of continued deterioration in their portfolios.

Debt and IMF Reclassification

 In nominal terms, Togo’s outstanding public debt stood at 4,288 billion CFA francs at the end of March 2025, up slightly from 4,217 billion at the end of 2024, before falling again in the second quarter. The increase was attributed to financing for infrastructure projects and social programs, though strong economic momentum eased the burden relative to GDP, according to the supervisory authority.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) confirmed Togo’s reclassification among countries with a “strong debt-carrying capacity,” citing contained inflation and an improved World Bank CPIA score.

Authorities said they plan to maintain the favorable trajectory by strengthening debt management, prioritizing investment, and improving oversight of microfinance institutions.

R.E.D

• The French Development Agency (AFD) manages a portfolio of over €300 million in Togo, with annual commitments of €40–50 million.

• Benjamin Neumann, with 15 years of experience in fragile regions such as the Sahel, took charge of the Lomé office in August 2025.

• His appointment comes as Togo seeks to diversify financial partnerships amid rising competition from China, Turkey, Russia, and Gulf states.

The French Development Agency (AFD) appointed Benjamin Neumann as its new country director in Lomé in August 2025. He replaces Zolika Bouabdallah at a time when Togo is accelerating its development agenda and expanding its financial partnerships.

Neumann, an economist and journalist by training, brings more than 15 years of experience in international development. He previously worked at Proparco, AFD’s communications unit, and the Crises and Conflicts division, where he helped deploy the “3D” approach — Defense, Diplomacy, Development — in the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea. Most recently, he led the Grand Sahel Unit, managing programs in fragile but strategic countries.

AFD’s Role in Togo

AFD is a key partner in Togo’s development strategy. Its portfolio covers around ten projects worth more than €300 million, targeting education, agriculture, health, urban infrastructure, and energy transition. The agency commits between €40 million and €50 million annually.

AFD also contributes to regional programs on climate change and resilience in the Gulf of Guinea. Proparco, its private sector arm, co-finances a 62 MW solar plant in Sokodé with the African Development Bank. In northern regions such as Savanes and Kara, AFD supports agricultural water management projects. In Lomé, it participates in the financing of the port container terminal, a critical hub for trade in West Africa.

Neumann’s nomination comes as Togo intensifies its engagement with bilateral and multilateral lenders. The government’s roadmap highlights priorities including economic inclusion, infrastructure development, debt management, and resource mobilization to meet demographic growth.

According to AFD, Neumann’s mission is to “put his expertise at the service of Togo’s priorities and strengthen partnerships with local authorities and stakeholders.”

AFD’s mandate faces challenges as France’s influence in Africa is increasingly contested. Anti-French sentiment and the entry of new players such as Turkey, China, Russia, and Gulf countries reshape the region’s financing landscape. Neumann’s leadership will be tested by the need to consolidate AFD’s local partnerships while navigating a competitive geopolitical environment.

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

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• Nearly one-third of fruits and vegetables sold in Togo exceed international pesticide residue limits.

• Some products contain banned substances, raising health and trade risks.

• FAO warns that non-compliance could restrict exports of key crops such as coffee, cocoa, and cotton.

Almost one-third of fruits and vegetables sold in Togo contain pesticide residues above international standards, according to a new study presented this week in Lomé. Researchers also found banned substances in several samples.

The findings raise concerns for both public health and the competitiveness of Togolese agriculture, particularly its access to foreign markets.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Togo’s Ministry of Environment presented the data at a validation workshop attended by national experts and institutions. The study analyzed samples from all five regions of the country.

Professor Abdullatif Diallo, a consultant on the project, said misuse was widespread. “We are not the biggest users of pesticides in Africa, but we use them very poorly. Several banned products are found in the residues,” he noted.

The misuse of pesticides could undermine Togo’s agricultural exports. Non-compliance with international standards risks trade restrictions that could weaken key sectors such as coffee, cocoa, cotton, and horticulture. Products failing to meet standards could face rejection on global markets.

Djiwa Oyétounde, FAO’s country representative in Togo, urged authorities to strengthen traceability systems, boost producer training, and expand the capacity of national laboratories.

Farmer organizations, meanwhile, are calling for crop rotation to reduce pesticide dependency. Advocates say better practices will help protect consumer health and preserve the economic credibility of “Made in Togo” products.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• Togo launched a training program to build a national system for climate data collection and management.

• Reliable climate data is needed to meet Paris Agreement requirements and guide public policy, especially in agriculture.

• A robust system will help Togo anticipate climate risks, respect international commitments, and direct investments in vulnerable sectors.

The Togolese Ministry of Environment launched a training program on October 1 in Lomé to improve climate data collection and management. National experts are taking part in the initiative, which aims to create a system capable of producing reliable information for policymaking.

“Most of our sectors depend on the climate, especially agriculture. To plan crops or predict rainy seasons, we need precise scenarios and quality data,” said Ayité-Lô Ajavon, a national expert.

The effort responds to international obligations under the Paris Agreement, with support from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Raoul Kouamé, ECOWAS representative, stressed the importance of compliance. “The project is part of a perspective of reinforced transparency, which is an obligation for all signatories of the Paris Agreement. Without data, we cannot develop national inventory reports on greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

For Togo, the system has both environmental and economic implications. Stronger climate data will help the country mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture, infrastructure, and food security.

A reliable national framework will allow the government to meet international commitments, anticipate risks, and better target investments in vulnerable sectors.

The training session will conclude on Friday, October 3, 2025.

• The third Biashara Africa Forum will now take place on November 3–5, 2025, instead of October 20–22.

• The event will focus on intra-African trade, investment opportunities, and solutions to market access challenges under AfCFTA.

• Lomé was chosen as host city due to Togo’s strong role in implementing the continental free trade program.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat announced that the third edition of the Biashara Africa Forum, initially planned for October 20–22, will now be held from November 3–5 in Lomé.

The forum will gather public decision-makers and private operators to discuss intra-African trade and the implementation of AfCFTA. Organizers said this edition will emphasize identifying investment opportunities and addressing challenges related to market access across the continent.

SAVE THE DATE

BIASHARA AFRIKA 2025
? Lomé, Togo
? 3 – 5 November 2025

Join us in shaping the future of trade and integration under the AfCFTA at the continent’s leading platform for public-private sector engagement.

Stay tuned for more details.#BA2025… pic.twitter.com/FjxyF2WVzy

— AfCFTA Secretariat Official (@AfCFTA) October 1, 2025

Participants will also receive commercial intelligence, market access data, and regulatory guidance. These tools aim to help businesses make strategic decisions when entering new markets and ensure smoother, rules-compliant trade under AfCFTA.

AfCFTA Secretary General Wamkele Mene said Lomé was chosen to host the 2025 edition because of Togo’s active involvement in implementing the continental free trade program.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• NSCT signed agreements with three technical and agricultural training centers to strengthen youth employability in Togo’s cotton industry.

• The deal includes internship facilitation and gradual integration of students into cotton-related jobs.

• NSCT aims to align academic training with labor market needs while contributing to national development.

The Nouvelle Société Cotonnière du Togo (NSCT) signed a partnership on September 30 in Lomé with three institutions: the Technical and Vocational High School of Atakpamé (LETP), the Industrial Professions Training Center (CFMI), and the National Agricultural Training Institute (INFA) of Tové.

The agreement seeks to facilitate student internships and progressively integrate them into cotton sector jobs. NSCT said the initiative reflects its goal of aligning academic training with real industry needs to better prepare youth for the labor market.

“Investing in youth means investing in our country’s prosperity. NSCT intends to play its full role by offering young people not only practical experience but also the confidence needed to become actors of national development,” said Martin Drevon, NSCT’s managing director.

Through this initiative, NSCT goes beyond its traditional role of supporting producers to boost cotton output. The company also positions itself as a key contributor to qualified workforce training and sustainable national development.

• Togo and Austria signed a memorandum of understanding in New York to regulate mobility and migration.

• The deal emphasizes youth employment and entrepreneurship within safe, regular migration frameworks.

• The agreement builds on Austria’s labor needs and its deepening ties with Togo, including its embassy opening in 2023.

Togo and Austria signed a memorandum of understanding last week in New York on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly. Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey and Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger signed the accord.

“This memorandum formally demonstrates the shared commitment of Vienna and Lomé to promote Youth employment and entrepreneurship within the framework of safe and regular migration.” Dussey said.

I had the great pleasure of signing, with my #Austrian counterpart H.E. Beate Meinl-Reisinger @BMeinl Federal Minister of European and International Affairs, a MOU between our two countries on development, #mobility and #migration.
This memorandum formally demonstrates the shared… pic.twitter.com/oX6mlP6XRP

— Robert Dussey (@rdussey) September 26, 2025

Officials have not disclosed detailed terms. However, the deal aims to structure mobility between the two countries, focusing on professional, academic, and circular migration. The partners intend to reduce irregular migration and improve security for migrant pathways.

The agreement comes as Austria seeks labor in specific sectors and works to diversify migration partnerships, especially in Africa. Togo, for its part, aims to expand opportunities for training and employment for its youth population.

The deal also reinforces relations between Lomé and Vienna. In October 2023, Austria opened an embassy in Togo, marking a milestone in bilateral cooperation.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum