Municipal elected officials’ perceptions of decentralization and its financing in Togo

Abstract

After several hesitant attempts, Togo has made renewed progress in implementing sustainable decentralization. Municipal and regional elections held in 2019 and 2024 marked a significant institutional step forward. However, this implementation phase remains marked by both achievements and structural challenges. This article explores how local elected officials perceive the decentralization policy and its financing in their municipalities. It formulates the general hypothesis that decentralization fosters the implementation of local public policies when supported by appropriate institutional mechanisms. Based on a quantitative survey conducted in early 2024 among 487 local actors including 477 municipal councilors and 10 prefects the results highlight a range of perceptions. While some elected officials acknowledge improvements in service delivery and institutional support (through tools such as FACT and ANFCT), others stress the persistence of constraints related to financial autonomy, administrative capacities, and citizen participation. The findings suggest that decentralization in Togo is progressing, albeit unevenly, and requires further efforts to consolidate its institutional and operational foundations.