Togo, French region to expand municipal partnerships

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Thursday, 26 March 2026 15:58

Togo, French region to expand municipal partnerships

(Togo First) - The Union of Togolese Municipalities (FCT) and SO Coopération plan to support local authorities in Togo in developing partnerships.

The issue was discussed on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Lomé during a meeting between FCT President Koubonou Touni and SO Coopération Director Mathilde Reziau.

Several priority sectors have been identified under this decentralized cooperation framework, including waste management, water, sanitation and energy. Once these priorities are confirmed, SO Coopération intends to mobilize a broad network of stakeholders from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region—associations, local governments, training and research institutions, as well as private companies—to build partnerships with Togolese municipalities.

According to Mathilde Reziau, organizations in Nouvelle-Aquitaine already benefit from an information and support mechanism for implementing international cooperation projects across various sectors and countries, with a particularly strong focus on Togo.

Currently, only around 40 of Togo’s 117 municipalities have established decentralized cooperation partnerships, according to FCT data. Support from SO Coopération is expected to expand this network by facilitating new partnerships and strengthening existing ones. Discussions are already underway with several local authorities, particularly in the south of the country.

As part of its ongoing decentralization process, Togo sees decentralized cooperation as a key driver of local development. It is considered an effective tool for strengthening municipal capacity, accelerating development, and improving access to basic services.

Esaïe Edoh

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