• Discussions address procurement delays, coordination and funding absorption challenges
• World Bank says Togo maintains strong project portfolio management record

Togo and the World Bank held a meeting last week to review projects and programs financed by the lender in the country. The session brought together stakeholders involved in implementing the projects to assess the overall portfolio, identify constraints and propose solutions to improve delivery to local communities.

The World Bank's portfolio in Togo currently totals $1.49 billion and covers 18 active projects and programs, including 10 national and 8 regional. Separately, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Group's private-sector arm, invested about $320 million between 2020 and 2025 to support the development of Togo's private sector. The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) had a portfolio in Togo worth $172 million as of Dec. 31, 2025, in addition to a $585 million guarantee.

Those funds support initiatives across several key sectors, including employment, energy, governance, agriculture, health, education, local development, social protection, water access, transportation and urban development.

The review assessed the performance of ongoing projects, identified persistent constraints and agreed on corrective measures to strengthen their impact on the population.

Among the main challenges were slow procurement procedures, insufficient resources and limited capacity to absorb funds, which have delayed the implementation of some projects. Participants also highlighted difficulties related to inter-institutional coordination and the monitoring of certain activities.

In response, Anumu Ketoglo, economic adviser to the President of the Council, called on stakeholders to show greater speed, discipline and coordination. “Portfolio performance is not limited to financial commitments or disbursements. It is measured above all by the real impact of projects on people's lives,” he said.

Despite those constraints, World Bank Country Director for Togo Tony Verheijen praised the country’s track record. According to him, Togo has long stood out in the sub-region for the quality of its project portfolio management.

“This has translated into a gradual increase in the size of the portfolio over the years, with innovative projects that support Togo’s development ambitions and respond to the needs of its population,” he said.

Esaïe Edoh, with Togo First