Togo/Decentralization: Germany Grants 13 Billion FCFA to 69 Municipalities

In Togo, several municipalities are benefiting from the outcomes of cooperation with the Federal Republic of Germany, which has just disbursed funding of 20 million Euros, approximately 13 billion CFA francs, in support of the decentralization process. Thus, construction work for various facilities will be implemented in these municipalities.

The grant from the Federal Republic of Germany, through the development bank KfW, falls within Berlin’s support for Togo’s decentralization policy.

The documents for this agreement were signed last Thursday by the Minister of Territorial Administration, Decentralization, and Development of Territories, Colonel Awaté Hodabalo, and the German Ambassador to Togo, Dr. Claudius Fischbach.

«Through the signing of this agreement, KfW undertakes to contribute up to 13 billion CFA francs to the financing of the Territorial Communities Support Fund (FACT) for the implementation of the program titled Municipal Financing Support Program (PAFC)», stated Dr. Claudius Fischbach.

For his part, Ambassador Claudius Fischbach reiterated his country’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Togo.

«Germany, a country with a long tradition of federalism, is available to support the decentralization process in Togo», he reaffirmed.

According to authorities, this new approach has the advantage of allowing the realization of projects within a programming and execution horizon that will take into account the aspirations of our populations.

«The first component aims at financing social and economic infrastructures, the second at developing the capacity of municipalities in terms of public procurement techniques, and the third aims at enhancing the capacities of the personnel of the Technical Secretariat Management Unit of FACT, as well as providing IT and rolling equipment», explained Minister Awaté.

The Minister of Communication and Media, Government Spokesperson Kouigan Yawa, who is also the President of the Federation of Togolese Municipalities (FCT), was present, as was the Director of the KfW Office in Togo, Sonja Wassermann.

This funding has an implementation duration of 4 years starting from the beginning of 2024. It is intended for 69 municipalities in the Plateaux, Centrale, and Kara regions for the implementation of the PAFC program, structured in three components.

Justine