Authorities in Togo are doubling down on participatory governance. On July 29-31, more than 100 municipal leaders, technicians, civil society members, and academics are gathered in Lomé for a major workshop focused on local democracy and accountability.
The event is organized under the Decentralisation and Governance Programme (ProDeG IV), with technical support from GIZ and funding from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation (BMZ). The workshop aims to boost the capacity of municipalities to engage citizens in public decision-making.
Discussions at the workshop include how to promote citizen participation, strengthen civic oversight of government through Citizen Offices and collaboration charters, and integrate anti-corruption education into university programs.
Participants are also sharing real-life examples at a dedicated fair, encouraging peer learning and experience-sharing between municipalities.
"This initiative equips local elected officials and their teams with practical tools to build sustainable participatory governance," said Eliane Tete, Technical Advisor at ProDeG. This is essential at a time when citizens expect more from their local governments, while trust in institutions remains fragile.
The workshop takes place as Togo continues to deepen its decentralisation process, especially following the municipal elections held on July 17, 2025.