Togo
HI's objective in Togo is to reduce inequalities in order to improve the living conditions of vulnerable people and people with disabilities. Our organisation seeks to promote the development of an inclusive society.
Our actions
Students burst out laughing during a participatory theater performance by the association Nyagbe ("the word") at the Lycée Gbodjomé in Goumoukopé. | © A. Surprenant / MYOP / HI
The school system in Togo is not sufficiently adapted to the needs of children with disabilities. HI is therefore running a project to ensure inclusive access to primary and secondary education and to develop vocational training for children and young people with disabilities. Alongside schools and public authorities, HI is also raising awareness of inclusive education and adapted teaching methods, as well as training teachers, supporting schools and setting up teaching resource centres, notably as part of the training programme for Togolese teachers and primary school teachers. HI’s teams also help young people with disabilities to find employment and develop inclusive vocational training services.
HI is also working to ensure that disability and the necessary adaptations are taken into account in government directives, to make services more accessible.
The programme is also running a mental health project to provide psychosocial support to people with mental health issues or experiencing psychological distress. In a country where access to psychosocial care is complicated by a shortage of health professionals and a lack of knowledge of the subject, HI is lobbying for the integration of mental health into the training curriculum for the sector’s professionals. In addition, the programme is mapping existing services and training partners and community members to support more users. It is also supporting mental health awareness campaigns in schools and working on the deployment of mobile health teams.
In the north of the country, HI is committed to strengthening the resilience and community cohesion of populations affected by conflict and violence. The programme develops spaces for dialogue and raises community awareness of peaceful conflict resolution. Our teams work with local players to promote peace, the economic integration of unemployed young people and the development of social cohesion mechanisms supported by the communities themselves.
Moreover, HI is developing logistics expertise to promote humanitarian access to very remote or isolated areas, train local actors in logistics and support other NGOs in the delivery of humanitarian goods. HI is thus working with the country's other humanitarian actors to make their responses more inclusive and ensure greater consideration of the specific needs of the most vulnerable populations.
Lastly, HI is engaged in the promotion and strengthening of disability rights, with a particular focus on gender discrimination. To this end, the programme supports civil society organisations fighting violence against women by strengthening their skills and working to share good practices.
Areas of intervention
Latest stories
HI is engaged in the promotion of sexual and reproductive health for young people
With the ENSEMBLE project and the support of the Togolese government, HI is implementing actions to promote sexual and reproductive health, particularly among women and young people.
I am very happy to contribute to the educational success of children with disabilities
Yao Gbledjo is an itinerant teacher in northern Togo. His job is to accompany children with hearing or intellectual disabilities so they can follow a school curriculum.
With HI’s support, Vincent can go to school with his friends
Vincent is a 14-year-old boy living in Togo. Born with an intellectual disability, he has been receiving support from HI for the past three years so that he can study at school.
a life
Background
Although rich in natural resources such as gold and phosphate, inequality and poverty remain extremely high in Togo, especially among people with disabilities who face numerous barriers.
Situated in West Africa, Togo has experienced several political crises. Indeed, although the country has had a democratic regime since independence, it has been disrupted by highly controversial presidential elections. Moreover, despite a growth rate of 4.4% in 2017, the distribution of wealth is very unequal, and more than half the country's population still lives below the poverty line (65% in 2017). Agriculture remains the backbone of the Togolese economy, accounting for more than 40% of national GDP.
Today, Togo is facing a growing risk of terrorism due to the porous nature of its borders with Burkina Faso, a country plagued by terrorist attacks since January 2015. This is particularly the case in the north of Togo, where people, already affected by poverty, have occasionally been displaced.
Negative societal perceptions of disability and a lack of accessible infrastructure mean that people with disabilities are often excluded from education and do not have equal access to services, such as health care. However, these issues are becoming more visible, mainly thanks to the advocacy work of organisations of people with disabilities, which are campaigning to change the rules and inform people with disabilities about their rights. HI is also taking steps to improve the situation in collaboration with its many governmental and non-governmental partners.
Number of HI staff: 37
Programmed opened in: 1992
