95221 June 3, 2010 Two Years after Resumption of Togo -World Bank Partnership, Development Results are Evident LOME, June 3, 2010—Nearly two years ago, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved an Interim Strategy Note (ISN) allowing the Bank to reengage and resume its financial cooperation with Togo. The approval came after a six-year suspension of disbursements following an accumulation of overdue debt service payments. The ISN outlined the framework for the World Bank’s assistance to Togo for the period May 2008 to June 2010 and offered new opportunities for ensuring the economic recovery of the country.  The main pillars of the ISN were those put forward by the Togolese Government in its Poverty A school built with funds from the Reduction Strategy Paper adopted by the Council of Ministers in March 2008: (i) improving economic World Bank-financed Togo governance and transparency; (ii) promoting economic recovery and sustainable development; and Community Development Project (iii) addressing urgent social needs. (CDP). Two years later, all the projects and programs included in the ISN framework and financed entirely with Bank grants have been launched and are well under way. Examples of results achieved during Related Content this period follow: Documents Governance and Transparency: Interim Strategy Note for Togo 2008-2010 The World Bank granted budget support in 2008 totaling about US$195 million to support the Press Release: Interim implementation of reforms undertaken by Togo. Of the US$195 million, US$155 million was used to Strategy Note and settle debt arrears. Economic Recovery and Governance Grant to Assist The supported reforms helped to improve economic governance and transparency in certain public Togo enterprises (cotton, phosphates), and to ensure more efficient management of public finances. Websites To date, the Government has been able to set up systems to facilitate more effective and efficient use The World Bank in Togo of public resources in order to bolster the country’s economic and social recovery, and create a The World Bank in Africa framework for the consolidation and strengthening of the financial and banking sector. Blog Africa Can End Poverty These reforms have also helped to strengthen budget preparation and improve its execution, together with auditing and public procurement procedures. They have also helped improve the fiscal stability of the financial and banking system, for which the Bank financed a technical assistance project in the amount of US$23 million (Financial Sector and Governance Project). Lastly, with a view to promoting good economic governance, the Bank also financed a public expenditure review and financial management study of the State, which did a complete, integrated assessment of the allocation of public resources, thus providing the Government with the justification for the formulation and implementation of a global action plan aimed at enhancing the impact of public policies and State financial management. Support Economic Recovery and Sustainable Development: In order to support this key component of the ISN, the World Bank deployed resources to finance infrastructure rehabilitation. Two planned infrastructure projects were launched. The first project provided for the paving of the second artery of the Boulevard de l’Oti, one of Lomé’s main thoroughfares situated in a high population zone. The artery was completed in February 2010 and is frequently used by those working in Lome’s industrial zone, which includes the port of Lomé.  The US$1.5 million project led to the improvement and facilitation of traffic circulation for thousands of users and eliminated traffic jams during peak hours. Security for motorcyclists has also been heightened, and drainage projects have improved the quality of life for roadside dwellers, who often have to cope with flooding during the rainy season. “Traffic on this road used to be very problematic,” said one taxi driver, who uses the Boulevard de l’Oti on a regular basis. “Anytime there was a little problem—an accident, broken down cars or trucks— the traffic would get seriously congested and become a nightmare. The second artery on this boulevard has made things much easier: traffic is fluid and we spend less time going and coming.” The second infrastructure project, initially scheduled for an amount of US$10 million, was ultimately granted US$ 26.2 million. This project, on which work has already begun, will not only build urban roads in Lomé but also will provide access to drinking water, and will contribute to the electrification of streets in the capital. Meeting Urgent Social Needs The World Bank has financed a Community Development Project (CDP), with the objective of helping reduce poverty in poor communities, especially in rural areas. With an initial amount of US$17.2 million, the government launched the CDP at the end of 2008 and has already built and/or rehabilitated several socio-community infrastructures, including classrooms, health centers, and rural roads. Additional financing of US$7 million was granted to help poor communities deal with the effects of the food crisis. A school nutrition program was set up in some 90 of the most disadvantaged communities in Togo to feed more than 20,000 students who receive lunches at school. The outcome of the first year showed that parents refrained from taking their children out of school to work in the fields, which meant that the rate of attendance increased in the beneficiary schools. The hope is that this program will give the children of Togo’s poorest rural families a chance to complete at least their primary education.  Additional financing of the CDP also made it possible to set up a program to support cereal production. In all, 4,275 tons of fertilizer and more than 325 tons of seeds (maize, rice, and millet) were distributed to 13,774 farmers for the 2008-2009 season. This resulted in a rise in farm productivity and the maintenance of affordable market prices for cereals. In less than two years under the CDP (i) socio-community infrastructures for the poor have been improved; (ii) living conditions are better for the members of groups who received financing for income-generating activities; (iii) children from poor families are remaining in school, because of the school lunch program; (iv) cereal production has increased; and (v) beneficiary communities are more self-sufficient and can now identify and execute their own micro projects, as a result of the training they received under the project. Enhancing Togo’s Prosperity World Bank representative in Togo, Mr. Joseph Baah-Dwomoh, was one of several advocates of the Bank’s reengagement with the country. Baah-Dwomoh ended his assignment in Togo on March 31, but expressed satisfaction at Togo’s achievements. “When I look back at where we started when I began my mission in July 2006 (…), I think we can be thankful for the positive results we have obtained,” Baah-Dwomoh told the newspaper l’Union in a March 30 interview. According to Baah-Dwomoh, in less than three years, the Bank and the Government have managed to lift the suspension by settling debt arrears and have launched several activities in the fields of budgetary support, improvement of urban infrastructures, community development, agriculture, and reform of key sectors of the economy (cotton, phosphates, the banks, etc.). “I fervently hope,” said Baah-Dwomoh, “that the reform program, the improvement of economic governance, and the mobilization of the whole population will continue for the sake of the well-being and prosperity of Togo.”