AGP Executive Report

Heritage & Festivals: Gonja’s Yagbonwura will be guest of honour at Anloga’s Hogbetsotso festival on November 7, a gathering expected to strengthen ties with the Anlo people. The festival recalls their migration from Notsie, in present-day Togo, and celebrates heritage and shared values. Women & Community: Togo is setting up complaint committees for its $62.5 million women’s empowerment project, with options to report concerns in person, by phone or online. The system is designed to protect confidentiality, including in cases of gender-based violence. Digital Culture: Thirty Togolese creators, bloggers and online journalists have received training to spot manipulated images, video and audio, and use AI responsibly. Faith & Society: Togo’s Catholic bishops have called for a national Rosary novena for peace from October 23 to 31. They also urged young people to help build a just and peaceful society, following a national youth gathering attended by about 3,500.

Skills & Technology: Togo has secured offers of free robotics and 6G training for top students in China, while a new local-language data drive and AI lab are opening pathways for young people into the technology sector. Digital Culture: The media regulator trained 30 creators at the University of Lomé to spot misinformation, verify images and audio, and use AI responsibly. Women’s Support: Togo is setting up complaint committees for its $62.5 million women’s empowerment project, with confidential reporting options and a target of resolving cases within 20 days. One study also found that 30% of women first turn to hairdressers for support rather than health workers. Creative Scene: Rapper Armel Helegbe’s career offers a look at the people shaping Togo’s rap music.

Student Opportunities: Togo secured pledges for free robotics and 6G training for top students during Faure Gnassingbé’s visit to China. Selection details and training dates are still pending. Women’s Empowerment: A new complaint system for the $62.5 million SWEDD+ project will let communities raise concerns in person or by phone, text, WhatsApp and email. It aims to resolve cases within 20 days, with safeguards for people reporting gender-based violence. Digital Media: Togo’s media regulator trained 30 creators, bloggers and online journalists to spot manipulated images, videos and audio and curb misinformation. Local Languages: The Voix du Togo project is gathering recordings and text to build AI tools in Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba, with the goal of making services such as healthcare and government support easier to access in local languages.

Women’s Empowerment: Togo is setting up community complaint committees for its $62.5 million women’s empowerment project. Concerns can be submitted in person or by phone, text, WhatsApp or email, with a 20-day target for resolution. Digital Skills: Thirty Togolese content creators have trained in spotting misinformation, checking images and videos, and using AI responsibly. Local-language AI: A national project is gathering recordings and translations in Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba to build tools that could help people use public services in their own languages. Tech Education: Chinese robotics and 6G organizations have pledged free training for top Togolese students; selection details are still to come. Women’s Health: A study reports that 30% of women in Togo turn first to hairdressers for support rather than health workers, highlighting the importance of trusted community connections.

Women’s Empowerment: Togo is setting up community complaint committees for its $62.5 million SWEDD+ project, with ways to report concerns in person or by phone, text, WhatsApp and email. The system will include safeguards for gender-based violence cases. Skills and Technology: Two Chinese organizations have pledged free robotics and 6G training for top Togolese students, though selection details are pending. Digital Media: Togo’s media regulator trained 30 creators in fact-checking, cybersecurity and responsible AI use. Local Languages: A national project is gathering audio and text in Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba to build AI tools that could make public services easier to use. Women’s Health: A study finds 30% of women in Togo turn first to hairdressers for support, highlighting the role salons can play in connecting women with health services.

Child Safety: A 15-year-old boy allegedly kidnapped in Kumasi has been found in Togo and placed in the care of Togolese authorities. How he crossed the border and when he will reunite with his family remain unclear. Digital Literacy: Togo’s media regulator trained 30 creators, bloggers and online journalists to spot misinformation, verify digital content and use AI responsibly. Local Languages: Togo is collecting recordings and translations in Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba to build AI tools that could help people access services in their own languages. Women’s Health: A study finds that 30% of women in Togo turn to hairdressers for support before seeking help from health professionals, highlighting the role of trusted community connections.

Digital Media: Togo’s media regulator trained 30 creators, bloggers and online journalists at the University of Lomé to spot misinformation, verify images and audio, and use AI responsibly. Local Languages: A national project is collecting recordings and translations in Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba to develop AI tools that could help people use public services in their own languages. Women’s Wellbeing: A study found that 30% of women in Togo turn to hairdressers before health workers for support, highlighting the role salons can play in connecting women with care. Arts and Identity: Togolese rapper and producer Armel Helegbe’s career is drawing attention to the people shaping the country’s rap scene. City Life: Architect Rodolphe Tchakpala says Lomé needs buildings designed for local climate, materials and residents’ needs—not simply more construction.

Digital Media: Togo’s media regulator trained 30 creators at the University of Lomé to spot misinformation, verify images and audio, and use AI responsibly. Local Languages: A national project is gathering recordings and text in Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba to build AI tools that could help people use public services in their own languages. Women’s Mental Health: A study found 30% of women surveyed would first turn to a hairdresser for support, while fewer than 1% would approach a health professional—highlighting salons as trusted spaces for conversation. Lomé’s Future: Architect Rodolphe Tchakpala says the city needs buildings designed for local climate and lifestyles, with natural ventilation, shade and local materials, rather than more imported glass-and-concrete models.

Local Languages: Togo is collecting recordings and translations in Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba to build AI tools that could bring healthcare and public services closer to people in their own languages. The Togo AI Lab is also helping young people explore data and AI careers through workshops and school sessions. Women’s Mental Health: A study found 30% of women surveyed would first turn to a hairdresser with a personal difficulty, while fewer than 1% would approach a health professional. The findings point to salons as trusted spaces that could help connect women with support. Lomé’s Future: Togolese architect Rodolphe Tchakpala says the capital needs climate-conscious buildings shaped by local materials, natural ventilation and residents’ needs—not simply more construction. Care for the Land: In Agou and Sokodé, OLA Sisters are combining gardening, tree planting and environmental education with community life.

Lomé’s Future: Togolese architect Rodolphe Tchakpala says the city needs climate-smart buildings shaped by local materials, natural ventilation and residents’ needs—not simply more construction. Women’s Wellbeing: A study of 576 women in Togo found that 30% of those surveyed would first turn to a hairdresser with a personal difficulty, while fewer than 1% would approach a health professional. The findings point to salons as trusted spaces that could help connect women to care. Language and Technology: Togo’s National Local Language Challenge aims to train AI models for digital public services, bringing local languages into the country’s technology plans. Care for the Land: OLA Sisters in Agou and Sokodé are tending gardens, nurseries and tree-planting projects as part of community efforts to restore soil and support local food production. Accessible Education: Regional education groups are urging West African universities to adopt tools such as screen readers, captions and accessible digital platforms for learners with disabilities.

Lomé & Urban Life: Togolese architect Rodolphe Tchakpala says the capital needs climate-smart design, natural ventilation and local materials—not just more buildings—as its population and flood pressures grow. Women & Mental Health: A study in four Togolese cities found that 30% of surveyed women would first seek help from a hairdresser; 89% of interviewed salon clients said they share things there that they tell no one else. The findings highlight salons’ potential role in connecting women to care. Care for the Earth: Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles are putting their ecological commitment into practice through gardens, tree planting and poultry projects in Togo, including in Agou and Sokodé. Education & Language: Togo’s 2026–27 university priorities include linking courses to jobs and directing research toward national needs. A new local-language challenge also aims to train AI models for digital public services. Women’s Leadership: At a conference in Lomé, ITUC-Africa Women called for more funding for women’s programs and a stronger role for women in union leadership and decision-making.

Women’s Wellbeing: A study in Togo found that 30% of women surveyed turn first to a hairdresser when facing a difficulty, while 89% of those interviewed said they share things with their hairdresser that they tell no one else. The findings are informing a programme to train hairdressers to offer support and connect clients with care. Education and Language: Togo’s priorities for the new academic year include linking university courses to jobs and focusing research on local-language AI. A separate national challenge aims to train AI models for digital public services in local languages. Faith and Society: Togo’s Catholic bishops are holding a week-long gathering to discuss seminaries and the country’s situation. Women’s Football: Benin’s Amazons take a 3-1 lead into their Olympic qualifier return leg against Mali after the first match was played in Lomé.

Women’s Wellbeing: A study of 576 women in Togo found 30% turn first to a hairdresser when facing a difficulty, while fewer than 1% seek a health professional. Nearly nine in ten interviewees said they share things with their hairdresser that they tell no one else. The Heal by Hair program trains hairdressers to offer emotional support and refer clients to care. Women’s Leadership: At a conference in Lomé, ITUC-Africa Women called for stronger funding for women’s programs and more women in union leadership and decision-making. Language and Technology: Togo has launched a challenge to develop AI models for local languages and digital public services, connecting language preservation with new technology. Education: The government’s priorities for the 2026–27 university year include linking courses to job opportunities and focusing research on national needs. Arts and Environment: An exhibition in Accra brings together 40 artists from more than 10 countries to explore humanity, nature and spirituality; it runs through November 4.

Women’s Mental Health: A study in Togo found that 30% of women first turn to their hairdresser when facing a problem, while fewer than 1% go first to a health professional. Nearly nine in 10 interviewed said they shared things with their hairdresser they told no one else, highlighting how the Heal by Hair program could help connect women to care. Education & Research: Togo’s priorities for the 2026–27 university year include aligning courses with job needs and focusing research on national challenges, including climate-resilient agriculture and AI for local languages. Language & Technology: Togo has launched a challenge to train AI models in local languages for digital public services. Faith & Community: The country’s Catholic bishops are gathering for a week of discussions on seminaries and the nation’s situation. Children’s Health: Four-year-old Togolese boy Laré has returned home after successful heart surgery in Spain.

Women’s Leadership: ITUC-Africa Women, closing a three-day conference in Lomé, called for stronger funding for women’s programmes and greater representation in union leadership and decision-making. Mental Health: A study of 576 women in Togo found that 30% turn first to a hairdresser when facing difficulties, while fewer than 1% name a health professional; nearly nine in ten said they share things with their hairdresser that they tell no one else. Education and Jobs: Togo’s priorities for the 2026–27 university year include aligning courses with labour-market needs and focusing research on local challenges, including climate-resilient agriculture and local-language technology. Local Languages: Togo has launched a pilot inviting people to contribute texts, recordings and translations in Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba to help train AI tools and improve access to digital public services. Health Access: Four-year-old Laré has returned to Togo after successful heart surgery in Spain, arranged with support from charities and a host family. Refugee Opportunities: UNHCR and Lomé-based ASKY are partnering to expand refugees’ access to skills training, jobs and entrepreneurship across six West African countries, including Togo.

Women’s Leadership: At a three-day conference in Lomé, ITUC-Africa Women called for more funding for women’s programmes and greater representation in union leadership and decision-making. Mental Health: A study of 576 women in Togo found 30% first turn to a hairdresser when facing a difficulty, while fewer than 1% seek help from a health professional. Nearly nine in ten said they share things with their hairdresser they tell no one else. Education: Togo’s universities will focus on job-ready skills, research tied to national needs and better academic quality in the 2026–27 year. Local Languages: Togo has launched a challenge inviting people to contribute texts, recordings and translations in Ewe, Kabiyè and Moba to help AI tools serve citizens in their own languages. Health: Four-year-old Laré has returned home to Togo after successful heart surgery in Spain, supported by charities and a volunteer foster family. Refugee Opportunities: Lomé-based ASKY and UNHCR have begun a three-year partnership to expand skills training, jobs and entrepreneurship for refugees in six West African countries, including Togo.