Togo: World Bank provides CFA16bn for Infrastructure and Urban Development Project
Wednesday, 18 July 2018 17:30 
(Togo First) - World Bank approved, via the International Development Agency (IDA), $30 million (over CFA16 billion) in financing to Togo to help implement the Infrastructure and Urban Development Project (PIDU). The latter was designed to renovate, rehabilitate and improve infrastructures in underserviced neighborhoods in the three cities of Lome, Kara, and Dapaong.
The fund will also be used to strengthen the institutional capacity of the seven most populous cities which include, in addition to the three above-mentioned, Kpalime, Tsevie, Atakpame, and Sokode. The strategy is set to be achieved through technical assistance and training aimed at ensuring sustainable urban development management in the cities.
“Togo is experiencing rapid urban development, but infrastructure services are inadequate in most secondary cities. This new investment will focus on improving people’s living standard in certain cities. The project also targets the improvement of urban development services, and could eventually lead to other investments,” said Pierre Laporte (photo), World Bank’s country Director of Operations for Togo.
About 2.3 million people are expected to benefit from this initiative, which aims to reduce gaps in the public services’ delivery in the focus cities. According to the Bretton Woods Institution, PIDU could cover the development of road networks and public spaces, drinking water access points, sewage and rainwater disposal systems, as well as small economic and social infrastructures (such as markets, schools and health facilities).
Let’s note that the project (PIDU) is in line with World Bank Group's new 2017-20 partnership framework with Togo. This partnership is expected to put the country on the path to more inclusive and sustainable growth, driven by the private sector and more effective public investments.
Fiacre E. Kakpo
