AGP Executive Report

SME Finance Push: Togo’s Credit Information Bureau (BIC) is set to launch an SME financing portal in 2026, linking small businesses directly with banks and microfinance institutions, with the platform guiding firms on what to submit to get loan applications properly structured. Tax Modernization: Togo’s Revenue Office (OTR) has moved Single Business Tax (TPU) filing and payments online via the e-TPU platform, aiming to cut paperwork, delays, and compliance costs for small traders and microenterprises. Roadmap Consultations: The government has begun the final stakeholder review phase of the 2026–2031 roadmap, meeting partners, unions, local elected officials, and civil society to refine priorities under “Protect, Unite and Transform.” Youth-to-Work: A 12-month work placement program under the Mastercard Foundation Associates Program will place 600 young people (with targets for women and people with disabilities) into company roles across Togo. Women’s Political Leadership: Togo reports 323 women trained in political leadership since 2020, alongside 204 local peer educator groups. Regional/Global Context: Iran’s IRGC says it struck and detained a Togo-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz amid wider Middle East attacks, raising fresh shipping and oil-supply concerns.

Media & Influence Threats: New research says Israeli firm BlackCore trained Angolan officials to run online influence operations, including fake social media personas and “positive government” narratives—raising fresh concerns about election and governance interference across the region. Public Health & Ebola Readiness: In Lomé, West African medical laboratory scientists opened a conference on epidemic challenges, pushing governments to close diagnostics gaps as Ebola risks linger. Women in Politics: Togo says its women’s political leadership program has trained 323 women since 2020, alongside 204 local peer educator groups, as a regional conference convenes young leaders from Benin, DRC and Togo. Digital Governance: Togo’s data protection authority is urging ministries to comply with the 2019 personal data law, including appointing data protection contacts. Agriculture & Climate Services: Togo rolled out SIHAM, a hydro-agro-meteorological system delivering weather, prices, advisory and insurance info to farmers via SMS and DigitKiosks. Health Coverage Planning: Lomé hosted a WHO regional universal health coverage meeting focused on diagnostics and closing service gaps. Regional Diplomacy: Benin, Ghana, Togo and UNHCR signed tripartite agreements to enable voluntary, safe returns of Burkinabè refugees, with monitoring and consultation mechanisms. Cartography & UN Politics: The UN’s “Correct the Map” resolution—backed by Togo and the African Group—won 164-1 support to shift from Mercator toward Equal Earth projections, with the US the lone opponent.

UN Map Vote: Togo-backed “Correct the Map” resolution passed at the UN General Assembly on Sept. 4, with 164 countries voting in favour to phase out the Mercator projection and promote equal-area maps like Equal Earth; the US was the only “no,” arguing the move distracts from urgent security issues. Women in Politics: Togo’s national program has trained 323 women in political leadership since 2020 and set up 204 local peer educator groups, with results shared at a regional conference in Lomé. Media Freedom: Togo’s sanction of correspondent Emmanuelle Sodji is under scrutiny, with journalists’ unions alleging a retroactive punishment tied to information about French nationals’ indictment. Health & Data Governance: Lomé hosted a WHO regional universal health coverage meeting focused on diagnostics, while Togo’s Data Protection Authority pushed public agencies to comply with the 2019 personal data law. Farm Support: Togo rolled out SIHAM, a World Bank-supported system delivering weather, prices, inputs, advisory and insurance info to farmers via DigitKiosks and SMS. Refugee Returns: Benin, Ghana, Togo and UNHCR signed tripartite agreements with Burkina Faso to enable voluntary, safe returns of Burkinabè refugees, framed as a framework not an immediate repatriation schedule.

Education Reform in Togo: About 2.9 million students returned to class on Sept. 14 as the 2026-2027 school year rolls out career-focused lessons from primary level and new FabLabs to teach robotics, programming and 3D printing, alongside opening science-focused middle and high schools. Tax Modernization: The Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) is moving businesses toward certified electronic invoicing under the 2026 budget law, requiring verifiable, secure and traceable invoices (QR codes, unique numbers and digital fingerprints) and new compliance workflows. Refugee Cooperation: Togo, Burkina Faso, Benin and Ghana signed tripartite UNHCR agreements in Lomé to facilitate voluntary, safe and dignified return of Burkinabe refugees amid ongoing Sahel displacement. Digital Health Expansion: Clinicaa is launching X-rayVision, a teleradiology platform to connect facilities with remote radiologists and speed up report turnaround times. Diplomatic Update: Egypt’s new ambassador, Shahinaz Abuseri, presented credentials to Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, signaling renewed focus on trade, investment and cooperation. Regional Security & Justice: NAPTIP and France-backed PROTECT project support anti-trafficking work across Nigeria and West Africa, including Togo, targeting digital recruitment and cross-border networks. UN Cartography Push (Togo-led): The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to phase out the Mercator map in favor of equal-area projections, with Togo credited for carrying the AU-backed “Correct the Map” campaign.

Education Reform in Togo: About 2.9 million students returned to class as the 2026-2027 school year starts, with new career-focused lessons from primary school and school FabLabs to boost tech skills, alongside new science-focused middle and high schools. Tax & Business Compliance: Togo’s Revenue Office is rolling out certified e-invoicing under the 2026 budget law, pushing firms to use verifiable, secure, traceable invoices (QR codes and digital fingerprints) and adjust IT and accounting processes. Refugee Policy: Togo, Burkina Faso, Benin and Ghana signed tripartite UNHCR agreements in Lomé to enable voluntary, safe return of Burkinabe refugees amid ongoing Sahel displacement. Health Tech Expansion: Clinicaa is expanding into teleradiology with X-rayVision, aiming to connect facilities to remote radiologists and cut report turnaround times. Diplomacy: Egypt’s new ambassador, Shahinaz Abuseri, presented credentials to Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, signaling renewed focus on trade and investment ties. Regional Leadership: Togolese Professor Palokinam Pitché took over as head of West Africa’s health body OOAS, inheriting a 2026-2030 agenda. Agriculture Watch: Togo’s farm export earnings surged on cocoa through 2024, but recent data points to a sharp contraction in 2025-2026 for coffee and cocoa.

Human Trafficking Crackdown (Togo-linked): A new France-backed regional anti-trafficking push led by Nigeria’s NAPTIP targets trafficking networks across Nigeria, Benin, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Togo, with a focus on how criminals increasingly use digital platforms and cross-border routes to recruit and exploit victims. Education Overhaul (Togo): Togo welcomed about 2.9 million students back to school as the 2026-2027 year begins, rolling out career-oriented instruction from primary school, FabLabs for tech skills, and new science-focused middle and high schools. Tax Modernisation (Togo): The Togolese Revenue Office is moving businesses toward certified e-invoicing under the 2026 budget law, requiring secure, verifiable invoices with features like QR codes and digital fingerprints. Digital Health (Togo): Clinicaa launched X-rayVision, a teleradiology platform to connect facilities with remote radiologists and speed up imaging reports. Diplomacy (Togo): Egypt’s new ambassador to Togo, Shahinaz Abuseri, presented credentials to Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, signaling renewed attention to trade and investment ties. Global Policy (UN map): The UN endorsed the “Equal Earth” world map to better reflect Africa’s true size, a move Togo supported as part of an AU-backed push.

DRC-Rwanda Peace Talks: DRC and Rwanda will reconvene in Geneva on Sept. 16-17 to test implementation of the 2025 Washington Accords, with the US, Qatar, Togo and the AU helping mediate security commitments as fighting continues in eastern DRC. UN Cartography Shift: The UN General Assembly backed Togo-led “Correct the Map” efforts, adopting the Equal Earth projection to better reflect Africa’s true size; the resolution is non-binding but could reshape classrooms and digital tools, with the US the only country voting against. Education Reform: About 2.9 million students returned to class in Togo as the 2026-2027 year rolls out career-oriented instruction from primary school, FabLabs for tech skills, and new science-focused middle and high schools. Tax & Business Compliance: Togo’s Revenue Office is pushing certified e-invoicing under the 2026 budget law, requiring verifiable, secure, traceable invoices (not just PDFs). Digital Health Expansion: Clinicaa launched X-rayVision, a teleradiology platform to connect facilities with remote radiologists and speed up report turnaround. Anti-Trafficking Project: NAPTIP and France’s Expertise France inaugurated the PROTECT project, including Togo, to strengthen prevention and victim protection across West Africa. Energy & Diplomacy: Togo joined the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy by 2050 and welcomed Egypt’s new ambassador, signaling continued focus on energy, investment and trade.

Diplomacy & Trade: Egypt’s new ambassador to Togo, Shahinaz Abuseri, presented credentials to Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, promising fresh momentum on investment and economic ties—though trade still heavily favors Egypt. Tax Reform: Togo’s Revenue Office is pushing certified e-invoicing under the 2026 budget law, requiring verifiable, secure, traceable invoices (QR codes, unique numbers, digital fingerprints) and new compliance steps for businesses. Public Procurement Integrity: GNEBTP-Togo is expanding its procurement compliance drive to site and office staff amid tougher ARCOP enforcement and sanctions for bid document manipulation or falsifications. Energy & Industry: Togo joined the UN-backed “Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy by 2050,” signaling nuclear as part of its energy security and development agenda. Aviation & Logistics: Ethiopian Airlines and ASKY plan a $100m Lomé MRO base by end-2028 to support their growing fleets across West and Central Africa. Regional Context: UN’s new “Equal Earth” map debate continues, with countries raising concerns over how Africa—and disputed areas—are shown.

Nuclear Energy Push: Togo has joined the UN-backed “Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy by 2050,” with Council President Faure Gnassingbé saying the move targets energy security and development—while stressing the need for financing, skilled workers, strong regulation and public trust. Aviation Oversight: Togo is hosting an ICAO technical assistance mission to review airport safety oversight and ground handling, as Lomé seeks to strengthen its role as a regional aviation hub. Procurement Integrity: Togo’s contractors’ association (GNEBTP-Togo) is expanding its public procurement compliance campaign to site and office staff, warning that bid document manipulation can trigger sanctions from ARCOP. Regional Security Strategy: Ghana’s National Security held Oti Region stakeholder talks to feed into a revised National Security Strategy aimed at countering violent extremist threats. Togo in the Spotlight Internationally: A UN “Correct the Map” resolution led by Togo and backed by the AU aims to promote more accurate world maps reflecting Africa’s true size.

Nuclear Energy Diplomacy: Togo has joined the “Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy by 2050,” raising the committed total to 39 countries, with Council of the Republic President Faure Gnassingbé citing energy security and development needs while warning that financing, skills, regulation and public trust will decide success. Aviation Oversight: Togo is hosting an ICAO technical assistance mission through Sept. 14 to strengthen airport safety oversight for Lomé’s role as a regional aviation hub, including checks on safety systems and ground handling. Procurement Integrity: Togo’s contractors’ association GNEBTP-Togo is expanding its public procurement compliance push to site and office staff, targeting bid-preparation practices amid tougher ARCOP enforcement and contract bans. Russian Influence Watch: Reports say Russia plans to expand its “Russian House” network to 11 centers across 10 countries, with eight planned in Africa including Togo—using local partners to operate under local rules. Regional Security Inputs: Ghana’s call for stronger cooperation against drug trafficking and transnational crime echoes wider West African security efforts, including stakeholder work feeding new national security strategy reviews.

Aviation Oversight: Togo is hosting an ICAO technical assistance mission through Sept. 14 to strengthen airport safety oversight and compliance, with experts reviewing airports and ground handling and highlighting regular emergency simulations at Lomé-Tokoin. Procurement Integrity: Togo’s construction contractors’ association (GNEBTP-Togo) is expanding its procurement compliance push to site and office staff, warning that bid document manipulation can trigger sanctions from ARCOP. Fuel Prices: Togo raised retail fuel prices effective Sept. 11—unleaded gasoline to CFAF 817/litre (from 725) and diesel to CFAF 766/litre (from 750)—as oil-market pressures and regional inflation concerns mount. Press Freedom: CPJ urged Togolese authorities to investigate the kidnapping and assault of journalist Roland Yaovi Kodjo, calling for prosecutions and stronger protections for media workers. International Diplomacy: A UN “Correct the Map” push led by Togo is gaining traction after the UN General Assembly backed the Equal Earth-style approach, with analysts framing it as a broader push for Africa’s visibility and influence.

CAF Club Football: Rangers International survived a tense CAF Champions League preliminary tie in Lomé, beating AS SOBEMAP 5-4 on penalties after two 1-1 draws, and now await the next-round opponent. Togo Aviation Oversight: Togo is hosting an ICAO technical assistance mission to review airport safety oversight and emergency readiness, as the country pushes to strengthen Lomé’s role as a regional aviation hub. Fuel Prices: Togo raised retail fuel prices again, with unleaded gasoline up to CFAF 817 per liter and diesel to CFAF 766, citing oil-market pressures. Press Freedom: The Committee to Protect Journalists urged Togolese authorities to investigate the kidnapping and assault of journalist Roland Yaovi Kodjo, calling it intimidation against the media. Public-Private Partnerships: Togo launched a PPP Club to improve project delivery and investor confidence, stressing PPPs should boost performance—not bypass budget limits. International Cartography: The UN’s “Correct the Map” push—led by Togo and backed by the AU—keeps spotlighting Africa’s true size and the political fight over map projections.

UN Cartography Push: Togo-led “Correct the Map” resolution won UN backing on Sept. 4, urging wider use of more accurate equal-area projections like Equal Earth to better reflect Africa’s relative size; it passed 164 votes to 1, with the US the only dissent and 6 abstentions, a diplomatic win backed by the African Union. Aviation Oversight: Togo is hosting an ICAO technical assistance mission to strengthen airport safety oversight for Lomé’s regional hub ambitions, with experts reviewing compliance and emergency readiness. Fuel Prices: Togo raised retail fuel prices effective Sept. 11—unleaded gasoline to CFAF 817/liter (from 725) and diesel to CFAF 766/liter (from 750)—as oil-market pressures persist. Education & Food Security: Government plans to boost school canteen use of locally grown produce, aiming to increase demand for Togolese farmers while improving pupils’ nutrition. Public-Private Partnerships: Togo launched a PPP Club to improve project delivery and investor confidence, stressing PPPs are for performance and risk-sharing, not a bypass of budget limits. Sports (Lomé): Rangers International advanced in the CAF Champions League after beating AS Sobemap 5-4 on penalties in Lomé. Press Freedom: CPJ urged authorities to investigate the kidnapping and assault of Togolese journalist Roland Yaovi Kodjo after armed men targeted the wrong person.

UN Cartography Push: The UN General Assembly backed Togo’s “Correct the Map” resolution (164-1, with 6 abstentions), urging governments and schools to use more accurate projections like Equal Earth—while the US cast the lone no vote. Press Freedom: CPJ says Togolese journalist Roland Yaovi Kodjo was kidnapped and assaulted after armed men targeted the wrong person, calling for investigations and protection for media workers. Energy & Prices: Togo raised fuel pump prices again: unleaded gasoline to CFAF 817/l (from 725) and diesel to CFAF 766/l (from 750), amid oil-price pressure. Regional Security/Refugees: Lomé hosts a second ministerial dialogue with Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to coordinate Sahel displacement responses and refugee protection. Agriculture & Jobs: Togo plans to boost school canteen use of locally grown foods. Governance/Finance: A PPP Club was launched in Togo to speed infrastructure delivery with clearer risk-sharing and performance standards. International Diplomacy: Togo is exploring nuclear energy options at a London symposium, with leaders stressing skills, regulation and financing.

UN Cartography Diplomacy: The UN General Assembly backed Togo-led “Correct the Map” with 164 votes to 1, pushing wider use of the Equal Earth projection to show Africa’s true size; the US was the lone no vote. Sahel Displacement Coordination: Lomé hosted talks with Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to tighten regional security and refugee protection, citing rising numbers of people displaced from the Sahel. Nuclear Energy Push: President Faure Gnassingbé spoke at a London nuclear symposium, arguing Africa needs partnerships and financing capacity—not “handouts”—as Togo prepares its nuclear framework. PPP Financing Drive: Togo launched a PPP Club to improve project delivery and investor certainty, stressing PPPs are for performance and risk-sharing, not a workaround for budget limits. Coastal Protection Progress: WACA-Togo says 25 of 26 groynes are complete along the Agbodrafo–Gbodjomé stretch, extending protected coastline to 26 km. Education & Social Support: Togo kicked off a second school kit campaign for 150,000+ girls under SWEDD+. Local Economy & Markets: A fire hit Kpalimé’s Château market, destroying grain and food stocks; authorities are reviewing market layout and fire-prevention. Business Regulation: Fabric importers in Lomé urged clearer trade and tax-inspection rules and fairer competition.

Tertiary Education Push: Stakeholders in Central Tongu are demanding the Adidome Farm Institute be upgraded into an Agric and Veterinary college (not folded into TVET), arguing it would boost livestock services and modernize training for youth and farmers. UN Cartography Diplomacy: The UN General Assembly adopted the “Correct the Map” resolution led by Togo and backed by the African Union, with 164 votes in favour and the US voting against—aiming to expand use of equal-area projections in schools, media and digital platforms. Coastal Protection Progress: Togo’s WACA-Togo project says 25 of 26 groynes are complete along the Agbodrafo–Goumoukopé–Gbodjomé–Kpémé coastline stretch, extending protected shoreline to 26 km, with final works due end-September. Women’s Education Support: Togo launched its second school kit campaign for girls in Blitta-Gare, targeting 150,000+ beneficiaries across 1,500+ localities under SWEDD+. Food Security Aid: Japan signed a CFAF 800 million rice support deal for 2026, using proceeds from subsidized sales to fund development projects. Regional Security Shock: In Mali, JNIM ambushed Russian “Africa Corps” and junta forces near Kaka, killing 13 and seizing weapons and equipment, signaling a tougher Sahel phase.