The NanaTech digital training program is expanding its support for women in Togo. Currently, twenty women traders and entrepreneurs are participating in a training course as part of the "NanaTech Immersion" program in Tsévié, which runs until September 21, 2024.

During this week-long training, participants will learn about digital transformation, digital marketing, financial management using digital tools, and developing managerial skills for the digital age. The goal is to help them integrate technology into their businesses and improve their leadership abilities.

Bandékine Yendoubé, Secretary General of the Zio prefecture, described the initiative as "revolutionary" for empowering Togolese women. Mawulolo Roger Lasmothey, a technical advisor to the ministry overseeing digitalization, noted that this initiative aligns with the country's strategy to enhance women's skills in line with its digital transformation goals.

Supported by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) through OMCA-Togo, NanaTech is an initiative from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Digital Transformation. It aims to equip women with business management skills and digital tools to boost their competitiveness. "NanaTech Immersion" is one of five components of this initiative. Recently, the "Lab" component concluded its first phase, which supported around 50 young women entrepreneurs in the ICT sector with a pitch ceremony that showcased three business projects.

South Korea donated computers and printers to the Togolese municipalities of Lacs 1, Agoè-Nyivé 1, and Agoè-Nyivé 2. The equipment was handed over on September 17 by  Moon Dongkyu, the Minister Counselor of the Republic of Korea in Togo.

"In the digital age, it is timely to provide this support to local authorities to better serve their constituents," Moon Dongkyu declared.

In March 2023, South Korea and Togo reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate in key areas such as agriculture, health, education, renewable energy, and information and communication technologies.

South Korea has been active in Togo for many years, through its International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Among others, the KOICA provided nearly CFA3 billion to support the Savanes region, under a program titled “Improving equitable and sustainable access to quality education for all children in Northern Togo.”

Esaïe Edoh 

Togo has made significant strides in cybersecurity, ranking among the top 10 African countries according to the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) report published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The country achieved an impressive score of 88.8 points, placing it in Tier 2, labeled "Advancing." This is a remarkable improvement from its previous score of 33 points.

The GCI evaluates countries based on five key areas: legal measures, technical capabilities, organizational measures, capacity development, and international cooperation.

The Togolese government credits this success to a well-structured strategy that includes the establishment of the National Cybersecurity Agency (ANCy) and Cyber Defense Africa (CDA). Collaboration with Asseco Data Systems S.A. has also helped train local staff in advanced technologies while meeting international standards.

The GCI’s recognition comforts Togo in its ambition to become a regional leader in cybersecurity, a goal Lomé seeks to achieve through legislative initiatives, strong infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and hosting international events.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Leonardo Santos Simão, head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), was recently in Togo. He met with President Gnassingbé on September 17. They discussed peace and security in the region. 

During the meeting, Simão praised Togo's efforts to maintain peace and stability. "I congratulated the President on his peace policy and initiatives to strengthen stability in the subregion," he stated. The UN Special Representative also reaffirmed the UN's commitment to supporting Togo's diplomatic efforts, especially in preventing and resolving conflicts.

Security remains a significant concern for Togo, particularly along its northern border with Burkina Faso, where the country is working to manage the flow of displaced persons and enhance local resilience amid terrorist threats.

The ongoing security and humanitarian crises in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have led to an influx of refugees into Togo, Benin, Ivory Coast, and Ghana. As of early 2024, around 87,000 people, mostly women and children, were seeking refuge in northern regions of these countries.

UNOWAS covers 15 countries, including Togo, and aims to support governance, promote human rights, and integrate gender considerations into conflict prevention and management. 

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

The Togolese Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has announced new priorities for the 2024-2025 school year, including the launch of "écoles-projets", an initiative aiming to blend theory and practice in education, allowing students to engage in real projects related to their studies.

"Each school/school establishment draws up a project that is the result of learning," said Minister Dodzi Kokoroko, in a statement dated September 9, 2024. 

Planned projects include installing solar panels for classroom lighting, making water filters to improve access to drinking water, starting vegetable gardens, and reforesting local plant species. Schools with computers will also offer computer courses.

The Ministry will provide resources, equipment, and qualified supervisors to support these projects. "Each school must take responsibility," Kokoroko emphasized, urging schools to participate actively.

Besides the project schools, the government has outlined six other priorities in its public memorandum. These include optimizing the deployment of teachers and administrative staff, providing in-service training for teachers, and establishing an evaluation system to enhance educational strategies. The Ministry also plans to strengthen collaboration with various partners and implement guidelines from the previous school year.

The new academic year for primary and secondary schools in Togo began on September 16, 2024.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo and Benin’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry will soon host their first annual meeting on entrepreneurship and trade. The roundtable falls under the Regional Program for the Integration of Agricultural Markets (PRIMA). 

In preparation for the meeting, whose date is yet to be disclosed, a delegation from CCI-Benin was in Lomé from September 9 to 14. The delegation met with CCI-Togo executives, including the chamber’s boss, José Kwassi Symenouh. The two sides discussed common challenges in agriculture and the opportunities PRIMA offers for regional integration and entrepreneurship. Talks focused on financing for agricultural players, tax incentives, and implementing entrepreneurial projects in both countries.

The recent preparatory mission laid "the foundations for the success of the first annual meeting between the two Chambers of Commerce". Thus, the upcoming meeting will "strengthen regional cooperation and the development of agricultural markets along the two countries' cross-border corridors".

This joint initiative is supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and comes amidst strong trade between Togo and Benin, at the formal and informal levels.

Esaïe Edoh

Lomé-based African Lease Group (ALG) earned CFA10.4 billion in sales revenues last year. The leasing and factoring firm, active in West Africa, also recorded consolidated net income of CFA5.4 billion over the same period. It loaned out CFA55.3 billion across its entire WAEMU market.

Rating agency Bloomfield Investment confirmed ALG's long-term issuer rating of A with a stable outlook. Bloomfield highlighted the group's "proactive" governance and its "commitment to practices in line with international standards".

ALG has five subsidiaries across the financial and non-financial sectors. The group offers financial services such as leasing and factoring for corporate financing in West Africa.

African Lease Togo, ALG’s Togolese subsidiary, is particularly active in leasing, factoring, payment services, and bonding operations. By the end of March 2023, factoring financing stood at CFA19 billion, up 171% year-on-year. Lease financing also reached CFA23 billion at the end of Q3 2023.

ALT obtained this year a CFA5 billion refinancing line from BOAD. ALT uses the monies to bolster its "inclusive services" dedicated to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

The European Union’s new Ambassador-designate in Togo, Gwilym Jones, is officially in.  On September 13, Jones presented his Letters of Credence to Robert Dussey, Togo's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert Dussey.

“I was so pleased to welcome and receive copy Letters of Credence from Mr Jones Gwilym Ceri,” Ambassador-designate of European Union to Togo, Dussey wrote on X.

Next, Gwilym Jones will be formally accredited by President Faure Gnassingbé. 

He replaces Joaquin Tasso Villalonga, who served for four years and helped strengthen EU-Togo cooperation through various development projects.

I was so pleased to welcome and receive copy Letters of Credence from Mr Jones Gwilym Ceri , Ambassador-designate of European Union to Togo.. as Chief negotiator of @PressACP for #Samoa agreement, we had good discussions and we both look forward to building on the already strong… pic.twitter.com/N7suzGP7zy

— Robert Dussey (@rdussey) September 13, 2024

Jones will oversee projects funded under the first phase of the 2021-2024 multiannual programming. These projects focus on combating climate change, developing agro-industries, and enhancing the resilience of Togo.

New initiatives are also anticipated in other areas. “We remain committed to expanding our partnership across various areas such as peace, Security, trade, investment.., and Development,” said Robert Dussey.

Before coming to Togo, Gwilym Jones served as the EU Ambassador to Mauritania since September 2021. He was also the Head of EU Cooperation in Niger from 2019 to 2021.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo currently hosts the OECD Francophone Academy. Launched on September 16 and ending on September 20, the one-week training aims to combat illicit financial flows and improve domestic resource mobilization in participating countries. The meeting is held at the Institut de Formation Fiscale et Douanière de l'OTR (IFDD-OTR). 

Among the key figures present at the opening ceremony were Mawussé Afidenyigba, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Economy and Finance, Phillipe Tchodié, head of the Togolese Revenue Office, and Augustin Favereau, French Ambassador to Togo.

The focus of the initiative is "VAT fraud investigations".  and will run until September 20.

The event should help Togo consolidate its position as a regional training hub for financial crime prevention. 

"This is the first time that French trainees have come to Africa for training, and Togo is honored to host this academy," said Kibalo Bangna, Director of IFDD-OTR. He added that if the program meets its goals over the next five years, they may sign a long-term agreement with the OECD.

The academy aims to build capacity among various government agencies involved in tackling financial crime by training personnel from financial administrations, police, gendarmerie, judiciary, and other related sectors. Experts from the OECD will provide the training.

The OECD Francophone Academy gathered 35 French-speaking trainees from fifteen African countries (Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Morocco, Rwanda, Tunisia) and France.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi