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Togo's Novissi Program: A Summary

Core Content

The document provides an analysis of mobile phone and financial inclusion in Togo, with a focus on the Novissi (Solidarity) Crisis-Response Program, launched in response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the challenges and successes of implementing a fully digital social protection program targeting the urban informal sector.

Key Statistics

• Mobile Phone Ownership: Over 6.3 million registered cell phones in Togo, with 68% of adults owning one (as of 2021).
• Internet Subscribers: 4.7 million (both home and mobile).
• Literacy Rate: 64% nationally, limiting access to certain phone functions.
• Mobile Money Accounts: 36% of adults in Togo hold mobile money accounts, with urban areas having higher rates (nearly 50% by 2021).
• Novissi Distribution: Over 500,000 people received benefits, with 65% being women.
• Financial Agents: Togo has over 15,000 active financial agents, facilitating cash-out for beneficiaries.

Main Points

Financial Inclusion in Togo

• Mobile phone ownership is widespread but not universal.
• Literacy rates limit the ability of some users to fully utilize mobile phone features.
• Mobile money accounts are more prevalent in urban areas, aiding digital payment processes.

Impact of the Pandemic on the Informal Sector

• The informal sector was heavily affected, with 64% of firms reporting revenue loss and 62% of workers experiencing income loss.
• Services and manufacturing sectors, more common in urban areas, were particularly hit hard.

Novissi Program Overview

• Launched in April 2020, Novissi targeted the urban informal sector in Greater Lomé and later expanded to Tchaoudjo Prefecture.
• It was a fully digital G2P (Government to Person) program, using mobile money for transfers.
• The program provided unconditional cash transfers, with amounts adjusted for women due to higher vulnerability to poverty.

Success Factors of Novissi

• Targeting Criteria: Utilized the CENI (Central Election Commission) voter database, which provided up-to-date information on urban residence and occupation.
• Digital Infrastructure: Leverage of high mobile phone and internet penetration in urban areas enabled efficient and scalable program delivery.
• Regulatory Support: BCEAO relaxed customer due diligence requirements, allowing for remote account opening and simplified KYC procedures.
• Communication: Radio was used effectively to reach the urban population, especially those with limited literacy.

Challenges Faced by Novissi

• Mobile Phone Access: Not all intended beneficiaries had access to a phone, potentially excluding some.
• Digital Literacy: Illiteracy among vulnerable groups, especially women, hindered their ability to transact digitally.
• Merchant Acceptance: Low adoption of electronic payments among merchants in Togo meant beneficiaries often had to cash out, incurring fees.
• Dependence on Social Networks: Beneficiaries without a phone relied on others to register and access benefits, reducing autonomy.

Critical Insights

• The use of existing administrative databases (like CENI) allowed for efficient targeting of the urban informal sector.
• Digital social protection programs can be effective in urban areas due to better infrastructure and financial ecosystems.
• However, such programs must account for digital and financial literacy gaps, as well as unequal access to technology, to avoid exclusion.
• The design of Novissi could be improved by incorporating in-person registration options and expanding electronic payment acceptance.

Recommendations for Future Programs

• Social Registry Development: A new social registry should include occupation and other simple, time-invariant data to better target informal sector members.
• In-Person Registration Options: To reduce exclusion risks, especially among those without mobile phones, in-person registration should be considered.
• Enhancing Financial Inclusion: Lowering the cost of mobile phone usage and promoting digital merchant payments can improve the effectiveness of digital G2P programs.
• Support for Financial Literacy: Initiatives to improve financial literacy among informal sector members would enhance the utility of digital benefits.

Conclusion

The Novissi Program demonstrated the potential of digital technology in delivering social protection to the urban informal sector in Togo. However, it also highlighted the challenges of digital exclusion, literacy gaps, and limited merchant acceptance of electronic payments. Future social protection programs should aim to address these issues by improving access to digital tools and enhancing financial inclusion in both urban and rural areas.