WURI: World Bank approves disbursement of $273 million for the second phase of the project

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Thursday, 30 April 2020 03:58

WURI: World Bank approves disbursement of $273 million for the second phase of the project

(Togo First) - On April 29, the World Bank approved the disbursement of $273 million for Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger, by its International Development Association (IDA).

The funds are allocated for the West Africa Unique Identification for Regional Integration and Inclusion (WURI) program. The latter, which is currently in its second phase, seeks to facilitate access to services for people in the region, women and the poorest especially.

For Togo especially, the money will be used to accelerate the implementation of the E-ID project which is a biometric identification project. The goal of the latter is to make sure that every person living in Togo has a unique ID number by 2025.

Led by the ECOWAS, the WURI program is to set basic ID systems including anyone physically present in the community, regardless of their nationality, citizenship, or legal status. This ultimately should serve to improve their access to basic services such as social protection, healthcare, pension, as well as improve financial and digital inclusion, empower women and girls, and boost workers’ mobility. “These services are more important than ever regarding the period we are going through with the Covid-19,” according to the World Bank.

Overall, 65 million people are concerned by the financing. Let it be recalled as well that the first phase of the WURI was launched in 2018, in Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea. The project’s total cost is $395.1 million.

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.