Digital technologies, a major weapon to handle the Covid-19 crisis in Togo

ITC

Wednesday, 21 April 2021 19:15

Digital technologies, a major weapon to handle the Covid-19 crisis in Togo

(Togo First) - In line with ambitions to become a digital hub by 2025, Togo greatly leveraged ICTs to handle the Covid-19 health crisis. This, despite experts’ claims that the digital revolution in the country is relatively modest.

Smartphones, a vector of solidarity amidst the pandemic

In the early stages of the pandemic, Togolese authorities launched the Novissi cash transfer scheme, a mobile money-based program aimed at helping those who were most affected by the pandemic and the countermeasures adopted by the government to fight it. Smartphones were the main tools used in this framework. They became e-wallets fostering national solidarity at the time. Figures from March 2021 indicate that Lomé distributed nearly CFA13 billion to different communities suffering from the crisis. This was done with the support of many partners, including notably the AfDB.

The cash transfer scheme was lauded by global actors for its originality and Togolese authorities were congratulated for smartly using digital technologies to handle the Covid-induced economic and health crises. The country was among those that best managed the pandemic, both in Africa and the world. According to Lowry Institute, Togo is the 2nd country to best handle the crisis in Africa, and the 15th worldwide.

45ef0286b4cdea9e41c67294a33c2014 L 1

Using digital technologies to trace exposed individuals

Besides the Novissi scheme, Togo also developed a contact-tracing app - Togo Safe - to warn those who came in contact with individuals who tested positive to Covid-19. The goal of this platform is to initiate, in real-time, the health protocol elaborated to contain the virus’s spread.

Accelerating vaccination through digital means

Still, in order to slow the virus’s spread, the government took a step that allows online preliminary registration for those who want to be vaccinated. The move aims at achieving collective immunity in the country, according to the official website of the Togolese Republic.

45ef0286b4cdea9e41c67294a33c2014 L 2

In a post published on the UN blog, Damien Mama, Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Togo, wrote that “Togo is on the way to improve its health and wealth, with digital technologies.” According to the UN official who has been in Togo for the past three years, “the digital sector is without a doubt one of the most promising means to achieve the sustainable development goals (...) in a small country with big ambitions like Togo”.

Séna Akoda

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.