• ACBF assesses Togo’s progress in implementing AfCFTA commitments
  
  
• Study highlights national strategy, awareness campaigns, and technical committee
  
  
• Full monitoring system still pending; report offers recommendations for improvement

The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) has assessed Togo's ability to monitor and report on its implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. The findings were presented to Togolese trade stakeholders on Thursday.

The study evaluated Togo's compliance with its AfCFTA commitments, including tariff reductions, trade facilitation and services liberalization. "Without monitoring and reporting, countries cannot measure their implementation levels," said Edem Messa-Gavo, ACBF's senior impact measurement officer. "Based on this study, we've developed recommendations to help Togo track its AfCFTA implementation against established timelines."

The assessment noted significant Togolese progress, including developing a national AfCFTA strategy, establishing a multi-stakeholder technical committee, and launching awareness campaigns. "These milestones demonstrate strong national commitment to ensuring Togo fully benefits from AfCFTA opportunities," the ACBF stated, while noting that "establishing a fully functional monitoring system remains work in progress."

The evaluation used a standardized methodology simultaneously applied in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe, enabling cross-country comparisons. Established in 1991, ACBF serves as the African Union's specialized capacity building agency, supporting governments, civil society and private sector in evidence-based policy development.

Esaïe Edoh