One of VSF-Suisse’s more recent and bigger projects in Togo, financed by the Fund for Regional Stabilisation and Development (FRSD) in Fragile Regions within ECOWAS, aims among other at creating jobs and calming tensions regarding the use of land between farmers and pastoralist livestock keepers.
The Togolese population faces numerous challenges, including security issues, political instability as well as poor basic and economic infrastructure, all exacerbated by climate change. Moreover, there are disparities in education, with lower school attendance in rural areas, limited job opportunities, and social cohesion issues. These difficulties particularly affect minorities such as women and youth.
The Fund for Regional Stabilisation and Development (FRSD) project
In the northern regions of Savanes, Kara, and Centrale, the project funded by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aims to improve the living conditions of the population. The FRSD project focuses on implementing fast-acting, meaningful, and sustainable measures, considering economic, social, and ecological dimensions.
The interventions contribute to skills development in market access, agri-food processing, and preservation. Women and men participate in training session about the construction of climate-smart small infrastructure for nature preservation. Moreover, skills trainees support the development of local communities through cash-for-work initiatives, providing short-term jobs on public projects for those most affected by crises. These programs offer quick solutions to ease the burden of crises.
Jobs creation and peacebuilding initiative
Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse, in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), implements the FRSD project. A concrete example of the activities is the construction of stone pillars. Tensions often arise from territorial disputes between farmers and pastoralist livestock keepers, as cattle sometimes graze on crops. Stone pillars are constructed to reduce conflicts and demarcate agricultural fields from grazing areas. This work is carried out by young people, creating job opportunities for this minority group.
