Togo

Agriculture is an important cornerstone of the Togolese economy. It is of central importance to the government's strategy for economic development, poverty alleviation and food security. However, the rural infrastructure is in very poor condition: the road network is poorly developed, and many roads are impassable during the rainy season. This creates considerable disadvantages for cotton and coffee farming, which are important export products: seeds and other inputs are not delivered on time and the harvest is taken to market too late. Quality suffers and the price falls despite high transport costs.

The funding from KfW Development Bank is intended to rehabilitate and expand the rural road network in all five regions of Togo so that the roads can be used all year round. The road programme concentrates on regions where cotton, coffee and cocoa are grown. If the harvested crops can be brought to market faster and more cheaply, this increases revenues (also due to the higher quality). Exports are on the rise, which promotes the economy and increases Togo's state revenues in the long run. The population also benefits: travel is faster, safer and cheaper, giving people better access to health facilities in the next largest cities. Small farmers can also sell their products on the regional market there. As early as the construction phase, efforts are also made to ensure that as many people as possible are employed during road rehabilitation, providing work and income, at least temporarily. Last but not least, the population has better access to health and education facilities.

Project information rural development  (PDF, 137 KB, non-accessible)

It is very difficult for young people in Togo to find jobs: youth unemployment is very high at well over 30%. There are hardly any training places for pupils finishing school. The few existing vocational schools are poorly equipped. Buildings, classrooms and workshops are often in a very neglected state. The necessary machines, work and classroom materials are lacking. In addition, teachers and school management are often inadequately trained. And the content, which is taught in theory and practice, is not geared to the needs of Togolese companies. It is therefore difficult to find employment, even for young people who have completed their training. They do not have any chance of earning a higher income and escaping poverty. Germany wants to work together with Togo to break this vicious circle.

KfW Development Bank is therefore promoting the construction and expansion of vocational schools. Among other things, the aim is to enable the schools to accept more young people in the future. Support is also provided for the purchase of new, modern tools and machinery. The programmes supported by KfW ultimately help to improve the qualifications of teachers and thus improve the quality of vocational education and training.

Togo is politically and economically centralised around the capital Lomé. Decentralisation of Togo's political and administrative structures, which is an official goal, is still in its infancy. The municipal elections, which have been repeatedly postponed since 1987, were finally held at the end of June 2019 in 117 newly designated cities and municipalities. The newly elected municipal councils and mayors will assume their new responsibilities and will receive appropriate training.

The financial situation of the Togolese cities and municipalities is very tight. Marketplaces, bus stations, water supply and sewage disposal as well as roads are in very poor condition in many places. Investments are urgently needed.

The aim of KfW Development Bank's commitment is to strengthen medium-sized towns, which are to be developed into regional growth centres by promoting local economic cycles. To this end, the municipal infrastructure and local governance will be improved. In the medium term, the aim is to limit rural migration to Lomé.

Specifically, KfW is financing the construction and renovation of municipal marketplaces on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Small farmers and craftspeople will thus be able to sell their products better; the role of medium-sized towns will be strengthened. The additional rents for stands increase the revenue sources of the cities. This will enable them to offer their citizens additional and better services. Municipal employees will be trained in supervision of works, financial management, and maintenance and operation of municipal infrastructure. Citizens will be able to use their mobile phones to make suggestions for municipal planning and, conversely, to receive feedback. This strengthens transparency and officials' sense of responsibility, a primary aim of which is to prevent future conflicts.

Under another new project, KfW aims to finance town halls in rural areas on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development after the successful municipal elections. This is intended to enable the municipalities to offer important municipal services, e.g. by issuing birth and marriage certificates, and to carry out smaller-scale projects on the basis of a budget. In addition, the aim is for the infrastructure to ease the workload of the elected municipal representatives.

In the area of urban development and transport, the Lomé inner-city bypass road was rehabilitated and extended, which significantly improved both the traffic situation in Lomé and the situation of the local residents.

Project information decentralisation and governance  (PDF, 166 KB, non-accessible)