Since 2022, WCAF Has Mobilized £2B as Success Breeds Success
The 4th UK – Francophone West and Central Africa Forum (#WCAF2025) on Trade and Investment 2025 took place in Lome, Togo, from 12 to 13 November 2025. The theme of this edition was ‘Success Breeds Success’ and it brought together some 600 delegates spanning nearly 450 organizations from ten countries in the West and Central Africa region as well as the UK.
At #WCAF2025, UK was represented by the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy for Francophone Africa Ben Coleman and His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa Badanam Patoki. The 4th Edition is the first time the Forum is taking place outside of London and signals UK’s ‘deepening commitment to African partnerships.’
“We encourage our British partners to look to the future with us, to invest not only in traditional infrastructure but also in Africa’s new growth frontiers: the green economy, the local processing of critical raw materials, digital finance and creative industries.”
Togo President Faure Gnassingbe
At the opening plenary, Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe underscored the great business opportunities brought about by one of the key #EconomicCorridors in the region, linking Lagos, Cotonou, Lome, Accra, and Abidjan. The strategic corridor traverses several countries with a total market size of more than 450 million people and the seaport of Lome is positioning itself as one of the key gateways.
The first edition took place in 2022 and so far, the #WCAF has cumulatively mobilized some GBP 2 billion of #FD into the West and Central Africa region from the UK. “The partnership allows for strengthening ties so as to build a model partnership,” noted the Togolese PM Victoire Tomegah-Dobge.
“Africa is home to some of the world’s fastest growing markets. It is a diverse, vibrant, innovative, and abundant continent, offering a vast array of opportunities for UK businesses looking to export and invest. WCAF IV is a powerful platform to deepen our partnerships, drive inclusive growth, and unlock the potential of UK-African collaboration.”
UK King’s Trade Commisionner for Africa John Humphrey
The key areas of cooperations include: infrastructure development, renewable energy, green growth, and digital transformation. The Forum to build up a pipeline of bankable projects ready for investment by UK firms.
Togo and Uk signed a MoU covering infrastructure, agriculture and agro-industry during the Forum. Additionally, UK will provide EUR 62 million of financing to Togo to enhance #ElectricityAccess in rural areas, bringing light to 250,000 people. Togo pitched a 250-MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (#CCGT) power plant to meet its electricity demand.