In Africa, competitive intelligence is becoming increasingly central to public policy. As territories face challenges in competitiveness, attractiveness, and resilience amid geopolitical, economic, and technological shifts, access to strategic information becomes a major asset. While several African countries have begun initiatives in this direction, these efforts often remain concentrated in capital cities, with little real territorial anchoring. Yet it is at the local level that many economic, social, and security dynamics unfold.
In Togo, this territorial approach to competitive intelligence fits perfectly within the ambitions of the 2020–2025 government roadmap, which aims to modernise the economy, strengthen social inclusion, and position the country as a logistics and service hub of reference in the subregion. In this context, the development of territorial competitive intelligence is a cross-cutting lever that can support several key roadmap projects, particularly those related to agricultural transformation, industrial zones, digitalisation of public administration, and investment attractiveness.
Decentralisation: A Foundation to Strengthen for Territorial Competitive Intelligence
In Togo, the decentralisation process, now moving beyond its pilot phase with the April 2024 regional elections and the upcoming June 2025 municipal elections, presents a real opportunity to strengthen the autonomy of local authorities and their ability to manage their own development. Since the 2019 elections, municipalities have been called upon to play a leading role in local economic planning. By equipping them with skills in data collection, strategic analysis, competitive monitoring, and information security, each municipality can better understand its strengths, identify opportunities, anticipate risks, and engage on equal footing with investors. This requires investment in training for elected officials and technical teams, along with methodological support tailored to local realities.
Territorial Promotion: A Prerequisite for Local Influence
One of the pillars of territorial competitive intelligence is the active promotion of each region’s specific resources. Whether it’s the agricultural potential of the Savanna region, port infrastructure in the Maritime region and Lomé, craft industries in Kara and Centrale, or ecological tourism in the Plateaux, each Togolese region holds cards to play in building its own attractiveness.
To this end, local authorities must learn to structure a clear, credible, and accessible territorial offer, based on reliable data and effective communication. Economic forums, decentralised cooperation partnerships, local digital platforms, and territorial marketing campaigns can all play a structuring role in this effort.
ACCI as a Continental Catalyst
In this effort, the African Centre for Competitive Intelligence (ACCI) can play a fundamental role. As a leading pan-African institution, ACCI possesses valuable expertise to support states and local governments in implementing competitive intelligence frameworks tailored to their specific challenges.
This support could include establishing local monitoring units, training municipal staff, securing strategic information, and connecting Togolese territories with other African localities that are more advanced in this field. A partnership between Togolese institutions and ACCI would thus provide a strong foundation for a coherent national approach, while benefiting from best practices at the continental level.
Linking Investment and Local Economic Transformation
Another essential aspect of territorial competitive intelligence is investment. To attract capital, local governments must anticipate investor needs, provide smooth and reliable support, and demonstrate the relevance of their projects. Competitive intelligence offers the tools to gather, structure, and leverage this strategic information.
Mechanisms such as local investor support desks, territorial diagnostics, local economic databases, and public-private partnerships can be further enhanced. This aligns perfectly with the national roadmap, which seeks, among other objectives, to stimulate employment — especially among young people — through targeted investment in high-potential sectors.
Strategic Alignment with the 2020–2025 Government Roadmap
Territorial competitive intelligence is not separate from national planning; it is its local operational extension. In this regard, it directly contributes to the government’s vision of a stable, modern, and attractive Togo, where territories drive growth and inclusion. Flagship roadmap projects — such as the establishment of agropoles, industrial zones, the Lomé-Cinkassé logistics corridor, and the development of the digital economy — would gain in effectiveness if backed by local capacity for information gathering, local priority setting, and a well-structured economic offer. Territorial competitive intelligence thus becomes a true catalyst for the success of these projects.
Conclusion
Togo now has the foundations to build a genuinely African model of territorial competitive intelligence — ambitious, relevant, and aligned with its national goals. By leveraging the gains of decentralisation, investing in local capacity-building, promoting regional assets, and partnering with technical institutions like ACCI, the country can shape a model that inspires the rest of Africa.
Such an approach would strengthen Togo’s economic sovereignty, create tangible opportunities for its people, and better integrate its regions into broader regional and global transformation dynamics.
Dr. Zack Bawa
