Togo has launched a US$1 million project aimed at boosting youth employment and strengthening climate resilience in the central prefecture of Blitta, as authorities and aid groups step up efforts to support vulnerable rural communities.
The 30-month initiative, unveiled by Plan International Togo, is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Plan International Germany.
With a budget of 874,448 euros equivalent to roughly $950,000 the programme will run from December 2025 to May 2028 and will cover all 21 cantons of Blitta prefecture in the Central region.
It is expected to directly benefit around 679 young people aged between 15 and 35, including 313 girls, with particular attention given to young people living with disabilities.
The project seeks to help participants develop environmentally sustainable income-generating activities in response to mounting climate pressures that have disrupted traditional farming patterns.
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Blitta, like many rural areas of Togo, faces erratic rainfall, land degradation and declining agricultural productivity, challenges that disproportionately affect young people and women who depend on small-scale farming.
The programme will be implemented in partnership with the local NGO RADAR and relevant government technical services. It will provide vocational and entrepreneurship training in sectors such as livestock farming, market gardening and fish farming.
Organisers say the goal is to improve local production while reducing pressure on natural resources, encouraging climate-smart practices and diversifying income sources.
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By equipping young people with practical skills and business training, the initiative aims to strengthen household incomes and promote long-term economic inclusion.
Local authorities welcomed the project, describing it as a contribution to social cohesion and rural stability in a region where underemployment remains widespread.
Agriculture employs a significant share of Togo’s workforce, but productivity is often constrained by limited access to financing, modern equipment and climate-resilient techniques.
Officials say empowering young people to adopt sustainable agricultural practices can help address both unemployment and environmental degradation.
Plan International has operated in Togo since 1988, focusing on children’s rights, gender equality and youth empowerment.
The organisation’s activities in the country include inclusive education, health and sexual and reproductive rights, protection from violence and economic empowerment initiatives.
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It works nationwide, particularly in the Savanes, Kara, Central and Maritime regions, through community-based projects and child sponsorship programmes.
Funding for its operations comes primarily from sponsorships, private donations and institutional partners such as the European Union, the French Development Agency and various United Nations agencies.
The new Blitta project reflects a broader push by development partners to link climate adaptation with employment generation, particularly for young people who face limited formal job opportunities.
Togo’s government has prioritised youth employment and agricultural modernisation under its national development roadmap, viewing the sector as a key driver of growth and poverty reduction.
Analysts say small-scale, locally anchored initiatives such as this can help build resilience at the community level, though sustained impact will depend on continued funding and market access for new enterprises.
For participants in Blitta, organisers say, the programme offers a pathway toward self-employment and greater economic security in the face of climate uncertainty.
By combining skills training, entrepreneurship support and environmental sustainability, the initiative seeks to create durable livelihoods while contributing to the country’s broader climate adaptation efforts.
