Togo and World Bank Strengthen Partnership for Socioeconomic Development

On November 9, 2026, Togolese President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé met with Ousmane Diagana, Vice President of the World Bank Group for West and Central Africa, to discuss the state of their partnership. The meeting focused on reviewing progress, exploring new cooperation opportunities, and addressing economic transformation and sustainable development challenges. The World Bank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Togo's development ambitions.

Diagana praised the strong relations between Togo and the World Bank, emphasizing the institution's goal of supporting the Togolese economy to create better jobs, especially for youth and women. This aligns with the World Bank's core objectives of promoting prosperity and combating poverty. The discussions highlighted the need to enhance the agricultural sector's potential as a driver of economic development and job creation.

The World Bank Vice President stressed the importance of a new approach to agricultural development, extending beyond food production to generate economic activities and employment. This approach envisions farmers as entrepreneurs, contributing to economic growth and job creation. Diagana shared this vision with President Gnassingbé, emphasizing the role of the World Bank in supporting Togo's agricultural transformation.

In addition to agriculture, the talks covered financing for investments in priority sectors with high growth and job creation potential, such as energy and digital economy. Human capital development through education, vocational training, healthcare, and nutrition was also a key area of cooperation. These discussions aimed to leverage World Bank support for Togo's socioeconomic development.

Diagana and Gnassingbé also addressed regional security and environmental challenges, including climate change impacts and conflicts in West Africa. They recognized the need for concerted responses to these issues, which affect development prospects. The World Bank's support is crucial in helping Togo address these challenges.

The Country Partnership Framework (CPF) 2025-2029 guides the World Bank Group's interventions in Togo, aligning with the country's development priorities. This framework will inform the design of future World Bank operations in Togo, ensuring they are tailored to the country's specific needs and goals.

The strengthened partnership between Togo and the World Bank is expected to yield positive outcomes for the country's socioeconomic development. With a focus on agriculture, energy, human capital, and addressing regional challenges, the cooperation aims to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and improve living standards for Togolese citizens.

Key points

• The World Bank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Togo's development ambitions, with a focus on creating jobs and promoting prosperity.