By making social security one of the structuring pillars of public action, President Faure Gnassingbé has initiated a silent yet profound transformation of Togo’s development model. From the first social safety nets to reforms aimed at universal protection, and more recently the launch of a large-scale cash transfer programme, the country is pursuing a clear trajectory grounded in inclusion, dignity, and rigorous impact assessment.
Togo’s social security policy has been built progressively around a central principle: protecting the most vulnerable while sustainably securing the productive forces of the nation. This orientation, carried at the highest level of the State, reflects a clear vision of human development as the foundation of economic and social stability.
As he has consistently advocated, President Faure Gnassingbé frames Togo’s development within an inclusive approach focused on safeguarding the most vulnerable and delivering tangible improvements in people’s living conditions. This guiding principle is now translating into concrete, measurable results.
Universal Health Insurance (UHI) stands as one of the cornerstones of this social architecture. It now covers more than 4.4 million people and, since October, has expanded to nearly 3 million informal-sector workers who were long excluded from traditional health coverage mechanisms. This extension marks a decisive step toward the universality of social rights and equity in access to healthcare.
In the education and nutrition sectors, 41 million school meals have been served nationwide, helping to combat hunger, reduce school dropouts, and improve academic performance. This effort is complemented by the distribution of school kits to 100,000 girls, reflecting a sustained commitment to equal opportunities and keeping girls in school.
Protection for maternity and early childhood has also been strengthened through the WEZOU programme, which has covered more than 4 million services, significantly reducing the health and financial risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
On the economic front, the National Fund for Inclusive Finance (FNFI) has mobilised CFAF 117 billion for nearly 2 million beneficiaries, supporting self-employment, small income-generating activities, and financial inclusion. These efforts are reinforced by input credit schemes for farmers—essential to food security and the stability of rural communities.
Driven by this combination of public policies and supported by innovative mechanisms such as Novissi and adaptive social safety nets, Togo’s model has delivered tangible outcomes. Poverty has declined by more than eight percentage points, and the country has crossed a symbolic threshold—moving from the category of “low” human development to that of “medium” human development.
Cash Transfers: A New Stage in Consolidating the Social Model
It is within this continuum that the launch, on Thursday 19 December, of the new national cash transfer programme takes place. Targeting 700,000 vulnerable households across the country, the initiative is backed by an initial allocation of CFAF 3.5 billion and provides a transfer of CFAF 25,000 per household, delivered through secure digital channels to ensure transparency, speed, and respect for beneficiaries’ dignity.
More than a short-term response, the programme represents an additional building block in an already structured social framework. Its objective is to strengthen household resilience to economic shocks while supporting employment and empowerment—particularly for women and young people.
Through its rigorous targeting, alignment with existing programmes, and the involvement of national and local stakeholders, the initiative confirms a strategic direction clearly embraced by the President of the Council, who views social security as a structural investment in social peace, growth, and the country’s future.
At a time when many countries in the sub-region are seeking to reinforce their social protection systems, Togo’s experience demonstrates that a policy grounded in consistency, impact measurement, and programme complementarity can yield structural results. The rollout of cash transfers for 700,000 households thus crowns a trajectory—that of a State that has chosen to place people at the heart of its development.
By Léonard Kloutse
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