The Togolese capital is hosting the first edition of the Local Economic Development Festival (FDEL) until May 17, 2025. The three-day event is organized by the NGO Youth Initiatives for Development (IJD) and the consulting firm SIM-Afrique. It brings together approximately 300 participants, including government representatives, local elected officials, investors, and experts from various countries, with the goal of promoting territorial development through public-private partnerships and the mobilization of local resources.
Designed as a platform for exchange, the festival features panels, experience sharing, training sessions, business meetings, and an evening dedicated to decentralization. Supported by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), the initiative aims to encourage the mobilization of local resources for the benefit of Togolese communities, particularly as decentralization has become a central focus of the country’s public policies.
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Pascal Edoh Agbové, executive director of the NGO IJD, emphasized at the festival’s opening that local economic development has become a priority for social and urban policies, unlike its previously marginal position.
This event occurs as the Togolese government intensifies its efforts to strengthen the financial autonomy of municipalities, a condition considered essential for promoting sustainable local development.
