Togo
In Togo, HI works to improve the living conditions of people in experiencing situations of hardhsip and people with disabilities, helping to build a more inclusive society.
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
Our actions
In Togo, the school system is not always sufficiently adapted to meet the needs of children with disabilities. HI has been running a project for the past ten years aimed at ensuring inclusive access to primary and secondary education and developing vocational training for children and young people with disabilities. Working alongside schools and public authorities, HI raises awareness of inclusive education and adapted teaching methods. HI trains teachers, supports schools, and provides educational resource centers. HI works to ensure that disability is taken into account and that the necessary adaptations are incorporated into government guidelines to improve access to services.
In the north of the country – a region regularly affected by violence perpetrated by non-state armed groups in the Sahel – HI is committed to strengthening the resilience of displaced people, refugees, and host communities. Through a voucher system, HI enables each family to purchase the essential goods they need, while giving them the freedom to choose the products that best suit their situation. In addition, families receive psychosocial support as well as initiatives to prevent and combat gender-based violence. HI supports community cohesion by creating spaces for dialogue between refugees and host communities and by raising awareness of peaceful conflict resolution. Finally, our teams promote the employment of young people and people with disabilities, in a context where access to the labor market is difficult for them. To this end, HI organizes awareness campaigns, supports young people and people with disabilities with career guidance, and works with job platforms, recruitment agencies, and employers to ensure their practices become more inclusive.
The organization is also committed to promoting and strengthening the rights of people with disabilities, with a particular focus on gender-based discrimination. In a context where women with disabilities face double discrimination, HI strengthens their leadership and supports their organizations by building their skills and working to share best practices to improve access to fundamental rights and advance equality.
- Number of HI staff: 36 people
- Number of people directly supported by HI in 2025: 54,428 people
- Number of people indirectly supported by HI in 2025: 205,660 people
- Program launch date: 1997
Areas of intervention
Latest stories
Fatima and Djoua: a relationship built on trust at school
To overcome the difficulties she faces at school, Fatima can count on Djoua Kalimoudou, an itinerant teacher, who helps her understand and learn her lessons.
In Togo, HI supports Lakaza, a renowned hairdresser
Lakaza Koudjoukalo is a young woman who was born deaf and nonspeaking, and chose to become a hairdresser. A model of achievement, HI supported her through her training and in setting up her salon.
Security crisis in the Sahel: HI supports refugees in Togo
Awa*, 48, fled to northern Togo after an armed attack in Burkina Faso. She received medical and psychosocial care thanks to HI.
a life
Background
Togo, a West African country with a population of nearly 9.5 million, faces persistent humanitarian and socio-economic challenges, despite sustained economic growth in recent years. Although GDP is rising and there is relative macroeconomic stability, the country remains marked by structural inequalities and increased vulnerability among its populations, particularly in border and rural regions. Growth has not led to a significant reduction in poverty or inequality: in 2024, nearly 26% of the population was still living in extreme poverty and disparities in access to basic services between urban and rural areas remain significant.
The regional security crisis, particularly the insecurity in the Sahel since 2021, has since led to forced displacement and the arrival of more than 50,000 asylum seekers and refugees, exacerbating the pressure on local resources and host communities and - in some cases - creating tensions. In August 2025, the Savanes region in the north of the country had more than 225,000 people facing food insecurity.
Furthermore, recurring climate-related shocks such as floods and droughts have undermined livelihoods, while malaria and other endemic diseases continue to pose a threat to public health, particularly among children under five. People with disabilities continue to face major barriers to accessing healthcare, education, and employment, despite legislative progress and national action plans to promote their inclusion.
- Population: 9.5 million
- HDI: 0.571 (2023)
- GDP: 9.7 billion USD (2024)
- GDP per capita: ~US$1,052 (2024)
