Togo hosts regional workshop on digital social payment systems to strengthen public service delivery

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Togo has hosted a regional workshop in Lomé focused on improving social payment mechanisms through digital innovation, bringing together experts, public institutions, and development partners from across the sub-region.

The workshop was organised in partnership with the World Bank and supported by the Ministry of Public Service Efficiency and Digital Transformation of Togo. Discussions centred on enhancing the efficiency, security, and inclusivity of social benefit distribution systems.

Participants examined key areas including the digitalisation of payment systems, interoperability between platforms, financial inclusion for vulnerable populations, and improved governance frameworks for social protection delivery mechanisms.

The initiative forms part of Togo’s broader strategy to modernise public administration through digital transformation, with an emphasis on deploying infrastructure and tools that improve service delivery, transparency, and responsiveness to citizens.

The Ministry of Public Service Efficiency and Digital Transformation highlighted the country’s experience with the Novissi programme, a digital cash transfer system implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, as a practical example of how digital solutions can support rapid and large-scale social interventions.

The workshop also provided a platform for peer learning among participating countries, reinforcing regional cooperation on digital public infrastructure and social protection systems.

Officials reaffirmed Togo’s commitment to leveraging digital technologies to drive public sector efficiency, innovation, and inclusive development across the region.