• The monthlong campaign will collect data from households and businesses.

• The initiative aims to improve access to financial services for vulnerable groups.

• Results will guide new policies to expand banking and digital finance access.

Togo will launch a national data collection campaign on November 6, targeting households and businesses to update the country’s financial inclusion database.

Planned to run until December 6, the operation is led by the Togolese government in partnership with the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). Authorities said the initiative aims to strengthen public policy planning and improve access to financial services, especially for vulnerable populations. The survey will provide updated indicators on the demand and supply of both formal and informal financial products.

According to a joint statement signed by Sandra Johnson, minister of Development Planning and Cooperation; Georges Barcola, minister of Finance and Budget; Hodabalo Awaté, minister of Territorial Administration; and Badanam Patoki, minister of Economy and Strategic Monitoring, the survey will measure access and use of financial products, identify needs and barriers, and highlight opportunities for expanding access to services across different user groups.

The National Institute of Statistics, Economic and Demographic Studies (INSEED) will oversee technical coordination and field operations nationwide. Enumerators will visit households, businesses, and financial institutions to gather data reflecting local economic realities.

Officials said the findings will help assess progress in financial inclusion and guide policies to increase participation in the financial system. They will also help identify underserved regions and population segments, enabling the design of targeted strategies to expand access to banking, digital, and microfinance services.

According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the use of financial services in Togo reached 87.1% in 2023, driven largely by government programs such as the National Fund for Inclusive Finance (FNFI), launched in 2014, which has provided thousands of Togolese with credit suited to their economic activities.

Esaïe Edoh