By Kebba AF Touray
On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, Togo officially launched a nationwide campaign to distribute educational kits to more than 100,000 schoolgirls under the SWEDD+ Project—Sahel Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend Plus. The ceremony, held in Djémégni, Haho Prefecture, under the high patronage of President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, marked another decisive step in the country’s pursuit of inclusive and equitable education. The project, supported by the World Bank and several international partners, underscores the Togolese government’s commitment to mobilize resources that will promote girls’ education and strengthen equal opportunity.
More than 100,000 pupils, from primary to secondary school, are set to benefit from the kits during the 2025–2026 academic year. The government described the initiative as more than symbolic, calling it a concrete investment in the nation’s future. In the words of the Council President, “Investing in education is investing in the future,” a sentiment that reflects his ambition to build a confident, skilled generation ready to take on the challenges of national development.
The school kit distribution is also part of a broader set of reforms aimed at reducing barriers to education. Over the years, Togo has implemented free education from primary to high school, covered registration fees for national exams, and introduced School Assur, a health insurance program for students. The government has also invested in expanding educational and health infrastructure nationwide. Officials said the SWEDD+ program complements these reforms by targeting social and material challenges that disproportionately affect girls.
In Togo, as in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, schoolgirls are vulnerable to high dropout rates, early marriage, and unintended pregnancies, often compounded by poverty. The new initiative, spanning nearly 800 communities, is designed to ease these pressures by equipping girls with the basic tools to stay in school and succeed. Authorities said the program not only empowers households but also reinforces Togo’s role as a leader in the regional SWEDD+ framework, which is active in several neighboring countries.
Sandra Ablamba Johnson, Secretary to the Togolese Presidency, presented the project’s details during the launch, highlighting its potential to transform the educational landscape. By reinforcing the government’s policy priorities, officials said, the kits are more than supplies; they are symbols of collaboration between Togo and its international partners.
For the government, the broader vision is clear: to create a society where every child, especially every girl, has the tools to succeed. By aligning education with national development goals, President Gnassingbé reaffirmed his ambition to make universal access to schooling not only a pledge but also a lived reality.
The SWEDD+ campaign represents not just an immediate intervention but a long-term investment in Togo’s demographic dividend. In the words of government officials, the initiative carries a promise—that education will remain central to the country’s path toward sustainable growth and social inclusion.
