Togo launches free vocational training program for young women

Training

Thursday, 07 May 2026 13:15

Togo launches free vocational training program for young women

(Togo First) - Young women in Togo have until May 20, 2026, to apply for École de la Chance (“School of Opportunity”), a free government vocational training program targeting 1,500 beneficiaries in the Autonomous District of Greater Lomé.

The program was launched under SWEDD+, a regional initiative supported by the World Bank. It is led by the Ministry of Development Planning, with support from the ministry responsible for Youth and Sports and the Union of Regional Chambers of Trades.

Applications are open to Togolese women aged 18 to 24 who are unemployed, seeking vocational retraining, or left school before completion. Registration is available at several centers across Greater Lomé and online via QR code.

The training will last three to six months and focus on trades considered to have economic potential. Courses will cover traditional African dressmaking, sewing-related trades, embroidery, hair braiding and styling, wig-making, and beauty services, including manicure and pedicure.

Authorities said the program aims to strengthen beneficiaries’ technical skills and improve their chances of finding work or starting income-generating activities.

The program also includes the recruitment of vocational training centers and workshops to deliver the courses. Eligible institutions must have at least five years of experience, adequate equipment, and facilities accessible to people with disabilities.

The first phase will focus on Greater Lomé before a possible rollout to other regions. The initiative forms part of SWEDD+, which seeks to strengthen women’s empowerment and support the demographic dividend in sub-Saharan Africa. Officials said SWEDD+ ultimately aims to reach more than 105,000 girls and young women in Togo.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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