Togo and World Bank Group Strengthen Partnership to Empower Women Entrepreneurs

A lunch meeting was held on September 20, 2024, at the palace of the Presidency of the Togolese Republic, bringing together members of the government, a high-level delegation from the World Bank Group, and Nana-Benz, a category of Togolese women merchants who embody a business bourgeoisie thanks to the international trade in printed fabrics, especially Wax.

This event was chaired by Dr. Sandra Ablamba Johnson, Minister, Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic, Governor of Togo at the World Bank, in the presence of the Minister of Trade, Industry and Local Consumption, Kayi Mivedor-Sambiani, the Minister of Communications, Media and Culture, Ms. Yawa Ahofa Kouigan, and the World Bank Director of Operations for Togo, Ms. Marie-Chantal Uwanyiligira.

Also participating in this lunch meeting was the Regional Director of Human Development for West and Central Africa, Ms. Trina Haque, and the Director General of the Gender Sector, Ms. Hana Brixi.

The work, in line with the strategic vision of President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé in terms of social and economic inclusion, focused mainly on the partnership between Togo and the World Bank Group, especially in the entrepreneurship and women’s gender sectors.

To this end, the two parties explored the different types of partnerships that the World Bank Group can establish with Togo to promote Nana-Benz, this category of women who are proud of the country, thanks to their keen business acumen.

The World Bank’s ambition is to support these female entrepreneurs for the emergence of a new generation of business women by financing innovative entrepreneurial ventures.

The World Bank Group Director of Operations for Togo, Ms. Marie-Chantal Uwanyiligira, congratulated women entrepreneurs, especially Nana-Benzes, for their contribution to Togo’s socio-economic development.

She thanked President Faure E. Gnassingbé for his efforts to promote gender, economic and financial inclusion and female entrepreneurship.

Dr. Sandra Ablamba Johnson, Minister, Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic, Governor of Togo at the World Bank praised the commitment of female entrepreneurs who have distinguished themselves over the years due to their dedication and sense of responsibility for the social and economic development of our country.

She expressed, on behalf of the President of the Republic, her thanks to the World Bank Group for its constant support in the implementation of projects in favor of the Togolese population and public policies for the benefit of women, in accordance with the Togo 2025 vision.

The Nana-Benz delegation welcomed this initiative by the World Bank Group and the Togolese government, and expressed its gratitude to the President of the Republic for his continued support for female entrepreneurs and the significant progress recorded in the promotion of female entrepreneurship, in light of continent-wide statistics.

According to the World Bank Group’s “Women, Business and Law 2024” report, Togo has made exceptional progress with an overall score of 97.5 out of 100, the highest among the world’s economies.