• West African officials met in Lomé to improve municipal finances for crisis response
• Talks focused on sustaining health, water, and sanitation services during shocks
• Meeting to produce regional roadmap and best practices for local governance
  

Representatives from several West African countries met in Lomé, Togo, on Nov. 3-4, 2025, to discuss how to strengthen municipal finances against security, health, and climate crises.

The meeting, organized by the Federation of Togolese Municipalities (FACT) with support from its partners, focused on identifying and sharing best practices in decentralization and local governance.

Focus on Essential Services and Regional Roadmap

Discussions examined how municipal budgets can help maintain essential services, such as water, sanitation, and health care, during periods of economic strain.

Éric Talardia Kondia, Permanent Secretary of the Council of Territorial Collectivities of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), said the meeting is expected to produce a guide of best practices and a roadmap to promote effective local financial management across the region.

For Togo, the workshop continues efforts begun with the creation of the Support Fund for Local Governments (FACT). According to Robert Bakaï, Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Territorial Administration, the fund supports municipal projects in health, education, and infrastructure.

Delegates from Mali, Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Senegal, and Togo concluded their discussions on Tuesday, aiming to strengthen local financial management and improve service delivery during crises.