LOME, April 3, 2017 – The World Bank’s Vice President for Africa, Mr. Makhtar Diop, will visit Togo from April 5-6, 2107.
This visit takes place in the context of the partnership between the World Bank Group and the Republic of Togo and seeks to strengthen the development policy dialogue with the national authorities and discuss World Bank support to the country in the areas of economic and social development.
During his visit, Mr. Diop will meet with national authorities and members of the Government. Mr. Diop will also visit the World Bank-financed Regional Center of Excellence in Avian Sciences (CERSA) at the University of Lomé, which aims to promote the development of the poultry sector in West and Central Africa.
Apart from a brief stopover in Lomé in February 2016, during which he met with the President of the Republic, His Excellency Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe, this will be Mr. Diop’s first official visit to Togo.
Togo joined the World Bank Group on August 1, 1962 and received its first financing from the institution in 1968. As of March 31, 2017, the World Bank portfolio for Togo has 15 active projects, representing a total financial commitment of $195.6 million, the equivalent of roughly CFAF 118 billion. These projects cover the education, agriculture, health, environment, mining, community development, social protection, and infrastructure sectors. New projects have been approved in 2017 to provide additional financing to the agriculture sector ($10 million), fund new community development and social protection projects ($29 million), and promote the employability of youth in disadvantaged communities ($15 million). A total of six other operations are being prepared to improve economic governance, promote logistical services, provide additional financial support to the agriculture sector, support the energy sector, strengthen urban infrastructure in Lomé and a number of inland towns, and provide budget assistance to support economic and sector reforms.
The World Bank Group is also finalizing its new strategy for Togo, which will be submitted to the Bank’s Board of Directors by end-June 2017. Mr. Diop’s visit will therefore provide an opportunity to reaffirm the World Bank’s commitment to support Togo’s efforts to promote poverty reduction and shared prosperity.
