Our plan in Togo

Plan is working at the grassroots level in Togo to help communities make real and lasting change, so that their children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Plan began working in Togo in 1987 and currently has programs in two regions which aim to address the following issues affecting children:

• High child mortality rate
• Limited access to and poor quality health services
• Limited access to quality education
• Harmful traditional practices
• Poor access to water and sanitation

Plan's programs and strategies to address these issues include:

Education

Schools in Togo are not adequately equipped or healthy for learning.  There are no pre-school or vocational education facilities, no school health services, poor teacher training, high incidence for abuse and gender discrimination.  Plan Togo promotes quality formal and informal education opportunities by increasing access to quality schools, improving infrastructure and sanitation, and encourages community-management of education facilities.

Child rights and protection

Children in Togo experience a high level of abuse and gender discrimination against girls.  There are also incidences of child trafficking and exploitation, with limited opportunities for children to participate in decision-making processes for issues that impact upon them.  Plan Togo works with youth and community organisations particularly with adolescents to encourage community involvement and capacity building to advocate for child rights and protection.   Plan also advocates the eradication of child trafficking and exploitation.

Health

There is a high incidence of mortality for children under five years old in Togo, many of which are killed by preventable diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea and respiratory infections. Plan Togo works to improve health access, sanitation and school health facilities and implement health programs, such as de-worming, to improve overall child health.

Country Facts

Country	Togo	Australia
Flag
Population	6 Million	21 Million
Language	French	English
Capital	Lome	Canberra
GDP per capita (USD/year)	344	$37,300
Life expectancy	54.5	81.5
Access to safe drinking water	52%	100%
Literacy	53.2%	100%
Source:	United Nations: Millennium Development Goals Report 2006