In 2024, Luxembourg further deepened its ties with Togo through the co-accreditation of its embassy in Cotonou, formalised on 10 January. In March, Minister Bettel travelled to Togo for a working visit, where the warm welcome from the government, and in particular President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, set a positive tone for future collaboration. During the visit a letter of understanding was signed, specifying the priority areas of intervention: (i) technical education, vocational training and integration into the job market, (ii) the environment and the response to climate change, and (iii) digitalisation.
Work to identify bilateral cooperation projects began in May and continued throughout 2024 with the involvement of the Luxembourg embassy in Cotonou. The general cooperation agreement between Luxembourg and Togo was signed by Minister Bettel and his counterpart Robert Dussey in September, during the United Nations General Assembly.
Luxembourg Development Cooperation awarded funding to two programmes through delegated cooperation agreements:
- The first is the Forests4Future: scaling forest landscape restoration in Togo programme, which seeks to strengthen the resilience of forest ecosystems and improve the lives of rural communities in Togo. Luxembourg Development Cooperation is supporting this project with €3 million in funding over a three-year period.
- The second is the ProDigiT: digital transformation of the Togolese economy programme, which seeks to strengthen the digital capabilities of Togo’s public and private sectors. The project is receiving funding of €8.8 million over a three-year period, focusing on the digitalisation of public services and the digital transformation of the private sector.
Implemented in partnership with GIZ, these projects represent key drivers in advancing Togo’s national priorities.
Discussions on future bilateral cooperation programmes have already begun between the embassy, implementing agency LuxDev and the Togolese authorities. Initial funding requests are expected in early 2025.
Seven Luxembourg NGDOs are active in Togo, five under framework agreements and two through co-financed projects.