Partners

Togo joined the APRM-mechanism in June 2008. However, it was not until early 2011 that actual measures were taken to set up the necessary structures. As a first step, Mr. Charles Kondi AGBA, the former health minister, was appointed as president of the future APRM National Commission of Togo. Currently, he is working in partnership with the APRM Focal Point at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation to finalize the composition of the commission. The commission will consist of 37 members from the civil society and the public administration. In order to support this initial phase, the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation assists the awareness-raising of authorities and the population about the APRM process as well as the dialogue of Togo’s APRM structures with those of other countries more experienced with the mechanism.

The educational centre CREFTP-RM was founded in 1990 in the framework of the cooperation between the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation and the Ministry of Technical Education and Professional Training. In addition to the regular handicraft curriculum, the students receive technology training in order to be better equipped to enter an ever-evolving employment market. The goal of strengthening the professional capacities of young apprentices lies in fostering their integration into the economic development of the country.

GF2D is a legal association for women’s rights that was founded by independent lawyers and women of different professions in 1992. Since 1994, it has an executive body, the “Research centre for information and training for women (CRIFF)” which is in charge of implementing all activities of the association. Its vision is to promote the participation of women in the socio-economic development by empowering them through civic education. The workshops organized in cooperation with the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation concentrate on raising women’s awareness about their legal rights, aiming to enable them to overcome socio-cultural constraints that have until now impeded their participation in the development process.

Founded in 1997, the Constitutional Court of Togo is the highest court of jurisdiction in constitutional matters and consists of seven permanent members. In order to promote the rule of law as part of the democratic development in West Africa, the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation envisioned the creation of a platform for regional exchange among the Constitutional Courts of Togo and other countries it is active in. The main goal is to share useful practices and to develop measures likely to improve administrative and judicial procedures in the domains of justice, public administration and governmental services.

Since its founding in 1983, the non-profit organization NDI has worked to support the development of democratic institutions in 125 countries and territories. Its three main fields of focus are citizen participation, democracy and technology, and democratic governance. In Togo, the institute organizes colloquiums in collaboration with the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation with the goal of deepening the dialogue between the population and decision-makers.

Founded in 1964, CAFRAD is a pan-African organization with the goal to promote regional integration and intra-African cooperation in the fields of public administration and governance. It serves as a think tank for governmental institutions and conducts training and research about good governance methods, development measures and efficient public services. Currently, 40 African states are members of the centre, including all the project countries of the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation.

GRAD was created in 2005 as a reaction to the large-scale violations of the Constitution and human rights in the aftermath of late President Eyadema Gnassingbé’s death. Since then, the working group has devoted itself to consulting and providing recommendations to Togolese authorities and political parties for political solutions based on democratic and constitutional principles. As part of its partnership with the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation, GRAD trained journalists, opinion- and traditional leaders to become aware of and better assume their roles as social disseminators. The organization has recently taken steps to restructure itself into a scientific think tank.

The CNJ was founded in April 2008 and is an independent board with a consultative status. It has 17 members and comprises all youth organizations in Togo. It serves as a platform for dialogue and discussion for the youth with the objective to integrate the young population into the development process of the country. The Council is represented at all levels by an elected youth member of the age range 15-35 years. The cooperation with the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation particularly focuses on the professional and civic training of the young population of Togo.