Togo Expands Data Lab to Drive Durable Policy Innovation with Support from Google.org
Led by the Government of Togo with support from the Center for Effective Global Action, the initiative will strengthen data science education, expand Togo’s capacity to use artificial intelligence, and position Togo as a leader in evidence-based policymaking.
A training workshop hosted by the Togo Data Lab in May 2025
CEGA
Lomé, Togo / Berkeley, CA (December 3rd, 2025) — The Government of Togo and the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) at the University of California, Berkeley have announced a new partnership with Google.org that will sustain Togo’s ongoing efforts to use data science and artificial intelligence to advance inclusive development and encourage evidence-informed public decision-making.
Google.org’s $2 million research support will charge the Togo Data Lab (TDL) initiative—a collaboration between CEGA and Togo’s Ministry of Public Service Efficiency and Digital Transformation (MESPTN)—to support the University of Lomé and the University of Kara in developing interdisciplinary data science curricula, establishing dedicated research hubs, and channeling data science talent to pressing development challenges in Togo. These centers will provide faculty and students with access to high performance computer clusters, training on computational tools and approaches, and opportunities to apply them through real-world projects sourced from partner priorities. The resulting improvements in governance, transparency, and policy design could ultimately benefit millions of citizens.
“Togo has made remarkable leaps in its digital development over the last decade,” said Cina Lawson, Minister of Public Service Efficiency and Digital Transformation. “We have made great strides in expanding connectivity and digital literacy. Now we are ready to grow and include more government and university partners and accelerate how data can be used responsibly to drive innovation and opportunity for all. This partnership will help us turn that vision into reality.”
In parallel, the TDL will also work to expand the Togolese public sector’s ability to use artificial intelligence to design more cost-effective public policies. A new Data Ambassadors Program will train 27 data specialists to strengthen data governance and analytical capacity in all of Togo’s government ministries. The TDL will also pursue specific projects with ministry partners best poised to leverage remotely sensed data to better analyze issues ranging from agricultural productivity and maritime activity to environmental conservation and climate resilience.
“By investing in local talent and open data infrastructure, this collaboration will demonstrate how artificial intelligence can be used responsibly and effectively by a forward-thinking government to improve public welfare,” said Carson Christiano, Executive Director of CEGA. “Our goal is not simply to deliver technology, but to build long-term capacity within governments so that data becomes an enduring part of how policy decisions are made.”
In its first two years, the initiative is expected to train more than 100 students and 70 government data scientists, create new university-level courses, and support over 20 public institutions in integrating data science into their daily operations. This partnership will help scale and further institutionalize the TDL. The TDL benefited from the support of several development partners, including the Fund for Innovation in Development (FID), the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, and GIZ. In the next two years, the TDL will foster new collaborations with public sector analysts, leaders, and academics at leading institutions. This infrastructure will empower Togolese researchers and public servants to leverage cutting-edge analytics to bring evidence- and data-informed insights to better understand Togolese development challenges and find the most cost-effective solutions to address them.
“Institutions like the Togo Data Lab are a critical bridge to connect innovations occurring in academia and industry to serve some of the world’s most vulnerable communities,” said Tamma Carleton, principal investigator and CEGA scientific director for the Togo Data Lab. “Democratizing these approaches requires both technical and organizational innovation; we’re proud to partner with the TDL to make this a reality.”
Together, CEGA, MESPTN, and Google.org hope to create a lasting model for how low- and middle-income countries can integrate data and evidence into the heart of public policy—turning information into insight, and insight into impact.
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Notes to the Editor
About MESPTN
The Ministry of Public Service Efficiency and Digital Transformation is responsible for crafting and implementing policies that drive the growth of the technology sector in Togo. Under the leadership of Minister Cina Lawson since 2013, the Ministry has pioneered initiatives to modernize Togo’s digital infrastructure, enhance digital literacy, and bridge the digital divide. One of its key achievements is the Togo Digital Strategy 2025, a comprehensive roadmap designed to position the country as a leader in digital transformation in West Africa, with a focus on innovation, economic growth, and social inclusion. This strategy aims to drive digital adoption across all sectors, ensuring the country’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
About CEGA
The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) is a hub for research, training, and innovation headquartered at the University of California, Berkeley. The Center generates insights that leaders can use to improve policies, programs, and people’s lives. Its academic network includes more than 180 faculty, 85 scholars from low- and middle-income countries, and hundreds of graduate students — from diverse academic disciplines around the world — that produce rigorous evidence about what works to expand education, health, and economic opportunities for people living in poverty.
Media Contacts
MESPTN
Kô Goma
Strategic Advisor to the Minister
CEGA
Eeman Abbasi
Manager of Strategic Communications
