Togo and World Bank Discuss New Funding for Social Sectors

Public Management

Monday, 23 September 2024 18:00

Togo and World Bank Discuss New Funding for Social Sectors

(Togo First) - Togo seeks to secure new World Bank funding to support education, health, social protection, and gender equality initiatives. Related talks began last week in Lomé between Prime Minister Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé and a World Bank team.

During the meeting, the Togolese side highlighted how it used past World Bank financing to boost human capital. According to the latest United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report, Togo's human development index rose from 0.539 in 2022 to 0.547 in 2023, although the country fell one spot in the global rankings to 162nd.

Lomé wants to consolidate these gains, especially in social sectors, which are crucial for economic growth and job creation. Prime Minister Tomegah-Dogbé stressed that the government’s roadmap prioritizes health, education, and social protection to develop human capital and empower the workforce.

"The government roadmap prioritizes social sectors like health and education to develop human capital for growth and job creation. We want our country to have an active force capable of self-sufficiency. We are implementing mechanisms to strengthen women's empowerment through inclusive finance programs," Tomegah-Dogbe said.

Togo plans to accelerate actions in social protection and women's empowerment.

During the recent meeting, the two sides also discussed other sectors such as energy and digital technology alongside social priorities.

As of February 29, 2024, the World Bank's commitment to Togo stood at $1 billion, covering six national projects ($403 million) and nine regional operations ($597 million). With new projects under negotiation, this portfolio is expected to exceed $2 billion in the next three years.

Esaïe Edoh

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.