AGP Executive Report

Blue Economy: In China, Faure Gnassingbé called for Lomé Port to generate more local value, not just handle more cargo, and named Gulf of Guinea security and ocean science among Togo’s cooperation priorities. Urban Resilience: A microtunnel boring machine has begun work on Lomé’s underground drainage network. The project plans 7.5 km of pipes to reduce flooding while limiting disruption at street level. Farm Technology: Togo is exploring AI, robotics and digital tools showcased at a Chinese agricultural technology park, while cotton growers use traps and soil-restoring methods to cut pesticide treatments. Research & Skills: The University of Lomé and Germany’s University of Rostock are launching a double-degree master’s in bioenergy, biofuels and green hydrogen. Togo’s new university priorities also target job-linked courses and research in agriculture, local materials and AI. Digital Public Services: Togo has launched a local-language challenge to help train AI models for public services.

Urban Resilience: Lomé has begun microtunneling for a 7.5-kilometre stormwater network expected to protect about 230,000 residents, with underground construction designed to limit disruption at street level. Smart Agriculture: Faure Gnassingbé toured a Chinese research hub using AI and robotics to improve farming, as Togo explores smart-farming and water-saving technologies. Meanwhile, cotton farmers trained in regenerative methods report fewer pesticide treatments. Clean Energy: The University of Lomé and Germany’s University of Rostock are launching a double-degree master’s in bioenergy, biofuels and green hydrogen. A separate deal also sets out plans for 50 solar-powered storage and charging stations across Africa, with Spiro, which operates in Togo, as partner. AI and Research: Togo’s national local-language challenge seeks texts, recordings and translations to help train AI for the country’s 50 languages. New university priorities also include linking courses to jobs and directing research toward climate-resilient agriculture, local materials and AI for public services.

Urban Technology: Lomé has started microtunneling for a 7.5-kilometre stormwater network. The underground approach should reduce disruption at street level; the project aims to protect about 230,000 residents from flooding. Clean Energy: Spiro, which operates in Togo, signed a framework deal for up to $296 million to build 50 solar-powered storage and charging stations across Africa. Projects will proceed under separate agreements. Smart Agriculture: During his China visit, Faure Gnassingbé toured a Shaanxi hub using AI, robotics and digital tools to improve farming, as Togo explores technology suited to local farmers. Farm Innovation: Togolese cotton growers using pheromone and sticky traps report fewer pesticide treatments, alongside soil-restoration practices promoted by the national cotton company. Local-Language AI: Togo’s #VoixDuTogo challenge is gathering texts, recordings and translations in Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba to help train AI for digital public services. Research and Skills: The University of Lomé and Germany’s University of Rostock are launching a double-degree master’s in bioenergy, biofuels and green hydrogen technology.

Smart Agriculture: Togo is exploring smart-farming and water-saving technology through a deal with China’s Shaanxi province, aiming to bring new tools to agriculture and water management. Green Energy: The University of Lomé and Germany’s University of Rostock have agreed to launch a double-degree master’s in bioenergy, biofuels and green hydrogen, building expertise and student links across West Africa and Germany. University Priorities: Togo’s 2026–27 education agenda calls for courses better matched to jobs and research focused on climate-resilient farming, local materials and AI for local languages and public services. Local-Language AI: A national challenge is collecting texts, recordings and translations to help AI systems understand Togolese languages, starting with Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba. Digital Skills: Ecobank Togo has backed technology training by donating laptops to 80 high-school graduates.

Smart Agriculture: Togo is looking to China’s Shaanxi region for smart-farming and water-saving technologies, signaling a push to modernize agriculture and manage water more efficiently. Green Energy Training: The University of Lomé and Germany’s University of Rostock have agreed to launch a double-degree master’s in bioenergy, biofuels and green hydrogen, building expertise and student links across West Africa and Germany. University Research: Togo’s 2026–27 university priorities include linking courses to jobs, sharing laboratory resources and directing research toward climate-resilient agriculture, local materials and AI. Local-Language AI: A national challenge is collecting texts, recordings and translations in Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba to train AI models for digital public services. The pilot is the first phase of a wider effort to make those services work in more Togolese languages.

AI in Local Languages: Togo has launched a public challenge to gather texts, recordings and translations for training AI models in local languages. A one-month pilot will focus on Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba, with the goal of making digital public services easier to use. Universities and Research: For 2026–27, Togo plans to align university programs with job opportunities, share laboratory resources and direct research toward climate-resilient agriculture, local materials and AI for public services. Mental Health Research: A study of 576 women in Togo found that 30% turn first to a hairdresser when facing a difficulty, while fewer than 1% seek help from a health professional. Nearly all surveyed women would consider a referral from their hairdresser, pointing to a potential bridge to professional care.

Higher Education & Research: Togo’s 2026–27 university priorities include linking courses to jobs in digital technology, renewable energy and other sectors, sharing laboratory resources, and directing research toward climate-resilient agriculture, local materials and AI. Local-Language AI: A new national challenge is gathering texts, recordings and translations to help AI understand Togo’s languages and improve digital public services. Its first pilot covers Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba. Women’s Health: A study of 576 women found 30% first turn to a hairdresser when facing a difficulty, while fewer than 1% turn to a health professional—pointing to trusted community networks as a possible route to support. Digital Inclusion: Togo and the African Union’s UN-backed push for equal-area maps calls attention to how map choices shape perceptions, with implications for schools and technology platforms.

Mental Health Research: A study of 576 women in Togo found 30% turn first to a hairdresser when facing a difficulty, while fewer than 1% go first to a health professional. Nearly all would consider a referral from their hairdresser to professional support. AI and Public Services: Togo has launched a challenge to gather texts, recordings and translations in local languages to help train AI models for digital public services. Its pilot covers Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba. Science Partnerships: Togo and Russia identified possible cooperation in research, energy, mining and other sectors at talks in Lomé; two memorandums were signed. Digital Skills: Ecobank Togo is backing digital training by providing laptops to 80 high school graduates. Space and Agriculture: Togo is also expanding space cooperation with Kyrgyzstan to support agriculture.

AI in Local Languages: Togo is inviting people to submit texts, recordings and translations to help train AI models on the country’s 50 local languages. A one-month pilot will focus on Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba, with the goal of making digital public services accessible in more languages. The push comes as limited computing capacity and energy threaten to curb AI’s benefits across Africa. Science Partnerships: Togo is expanding space cooperation with Kyrgyzstan to support agriculture, while Lomé and Moscow are also broadening collaboration in science, mining and energy. Digital Skills: Ecobank Togo is supporting digital training by providing laptops to 80 high-school graduates. Fintech: Togo is represented in the latest Visa Africa FinTech Accelerator cohort, which brings together 21 companies from nine countries.

Local-Language AI: Togo has launched a one-month pilot to gather texts, recordings and translations in Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba for training AI models to serve people in their own languages. Digital Skills: Ecobank Togo gave laptops and a year of internet access to 80 top-performing graduates, while 100 young people took part in sessions on AI, cybersecurity and careers. African AI: A new UNDP–GSMA partnership aims to improve access to computing resources for AI projects; Togo is among the countries backing the wider effort to develop African language models.

Local-Language AI: Togo has launched a one-month pilot to gather texts, recordings and translations in Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba, building datasets to train AI for future digital public services. Digital Skills: Ecobank Togo gave 80 high-performing graduates laptops and a year of internet access, while 100 young people joined sessions on AI, cybersecurity and career skills. AI Partnerships: A new UNDP–GSMA collaboration aims to improve African developers’ access to computing resources and support locally built AI; Togo is among the countries backing the related ATLAS Umoja initiative. Space and Agriculture: Togo is expanding space cooperation with Kyrgyzstan to support agriculture, linking technology partnerships with practical development needs.

Internet Rights: A new Africa-wide analysis says governments increasingly restrict networks during protests, while courts have yet to clearly define people’s rights online — an issue with direct implications for Togo’s digital policy. Digital Skills: Ecobank Togo gave laptops and a year of internet access to 80 high-performing graduates, alongside sessions on AI, cybersecurity and financial literacy. Space and Agriculture: Togo is expanding cooperation with Kyrgyzstan to apply space technology to agriculture. Science and AI: Togo and Russia are pursuing agreements on science, innovation and information technology, while Togo is also among the countries backing a UNDP-GSMA effort to widen African developers’ access to AI computing resources.

Black Sea Alert: The Togo-flagged cargo ship Alfa Watan sank after a drone strike in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. Its 10 crew members were reported missing as rescue efforts continued. Digital Skills: Ecobank Togo gave laptops and a year of internet access to 80 top-performing high school graduates, alongside sessions on AI, cybersecurity and careers. Space for Agriculture: Togo is expanding space cooperation with Kyrgyzstan, which will share satellite imagery and train Togolese specialists to track crops, drought, water and forests. Science Partnerships: Togo and Russia are developing cooperation in science, innovation and information technology, including plans for technology transfer and training. African AI: UNDP and the GSMA have pledged to improve access to computing resources for AI projects across Africa; Togo is among the countries backing a related initiative to develop African-language models.

Space & Agriculture: Togo is expanding space cooperation with Kyrgyzstan after the launch of a national satellite, with plans to receive Earth-observation data for crop monitoring, drought detection, mineral exploration and renewable energy planning, plus training for Togolese specialists. Digital Skills: Ecobank Togo launched a program for 100 young people in Lomé, equipping 80 top high school graduates with laptops and one year of internet access while training them in AI, cybersecurity and employability. AI Infrastructure: UNDP and GSMA partnered to strengthen Africa’s AI ecosystem, with a key focus on improving access to compute infrastructure for priority AI pilots and connecting local talent to real-world applications. Local Tech & Jobs: AED (Togo’s work-study training agency) signed a three-year partnership with Chinese contractor WIETC to align training at renewable energy and building IFADs with company hiring needs, including work-study placements. Science Diplomacy: Togo and Russia kicked off a joint intergovernmental commission in Lomé covering mining, energy, hydrocarbons, agriculture, IT, science and education, with draft agreements and MoUs in progress. Public Health Watch: A Volta Region report highlights “medicine on the streets” sales—unlicensed drug hawking—despite Ghana’s rules against it.

Space & Agriculture: Togo is expanding space cooperation with Kyrgyzstan after the launch of a national satellite, aiming to use Earth-observation data for crop monitoring, drought detection, mineral exploration and renewable energy planning, with training for Togolese specialists. Digital Skills: Ecobank Togo launched a program for 80 top high school graduates in Lomé, pairing AI and cybersecurity training with laptops and one year of internet access. AI Infrastructure: UNDP and GSMA partnered to strengthen Africa’s AI ecosystem, with a focus on compute access for priority pilots and language-model work across multiple African languages. Payments Tech: BCEAO published the latest list of 175 authorized participants for interoperable instant payments (PI-SPI), including fintech and mobile money players, with Togo listed among the countries opening the system wider. Local Tech & Jobs: AED and China’s WIETC signed a three-year deal to align work-study training at Togo’s renewable energy institutes with real construction and energy workforce needs. Togo-Russia Science & Industry: Lomé and Moscow advanced cooperation via a joint commission covering mining, energy, IT, science and education, plus technology access and skills transfer. Maritime Safety: Drones struck two commercial vessels in Bulgaria’s Black Sea zone, including a Togo-flagged ship, triggering a major rescue operation. Press Freedom: Mali jailed a publisher over an opinion piece, a case RSF says shows growing media criminalisation across the Sahel. Health Risks: “Medicine on the streets” in Ghana’s Volta Region highlights how unlicensed drug sales persist despite FDA rules—an issue with clear public-health lessons for the region.

Diplomacy & Tech: Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey won a MIPAD “Most Influential 100 Hall of Fame” award in New York, spotlighting Lomé’s growing regional role, including AU-led mediation for eastern DRC. Public Health (Volta Region): A GNA investigation finds “medicine on the streets” in major Volta markets—unlicensed sellers offering tablets, syrups and herbal products—despite laws requiring licensed pharmacies and FDA/Pharmacy Council oversight. AI & Digital Skills: UNDP and GSMA are partnering to strengthen Africa’s AI ecosystem, with a stated priority to improve access to compute infrastructure for priority pilots; separately, Ecobank Togo equipped 80 top high-school graduates with laptops and internet after AI, cybersecurity and employability training. Space for Agriculture: Togo expanded space cooperation with Kyrgyzstan after the launch of Kyrgyzstan’s first national satellite, aiming to use Earth-observation data for crop monitoring, drought detection and water/forest tracking. Payments Infrastructure: BCEAO published the updated list of 175 authorized PI-SPI participants across WAEMU, including fintech and e-money firms—pushing interoperable instant payments beyond traditional banks. Local Industry & Training: AED and China’s WIETC signed a three-year deal to align work-study training at Togo’s renewable energy and building IFADs with real construction and workforce needs. Togo-Russia Business & Science: A Russian delegation toured Adétikopé Industrial Platform, while a Togo-Russia joint commission in Lomé advanced cooperation in mining, energy, agriculture, IT, science and education. Mapping for Fair Representation: The UN General Assembly adopted Togo-backed support for equal-area world maps (Equal Earth), urging more accurate classroom and public displays—while keeping Mercator for navigation.