In northern Togo, the WFP is strengthening food resilience, from the fields to school canteens

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Extract from the article: Through the integrated school feeding programme based on local production and the Food-for-Asset (FFA) programme, the World Food Programme (WFP) is supporting the Togolese government in its efforts to improve schoolchildren’s diets, support farmer...

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Through the integrated school feeding programme based on local production and the Food-for-Asset (FFA) programme, the World Food Programme (WFP) is supporting the Togolese government in its efforts to improve schoolchildren’s diets, support farmers and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities. In the Kara region, the achievements observed illustrate an approach that combines food security, good nutrition, local development and the conservation of natural resources.

In Kassi, in the Kara region of northern Togo, access to water is a key driver for the development of market gardening. Along the river that runs through the village, dozens of farmers grow crops such as tomatoes, okra, green chillies and adémè. However, before the construction of market garden wells, the water supply was a major constraint for these farmers.

‘Before the wells were built, we used water from the river. We had to walk about 300 metres to fetch water to irrigate our fields. By the end of October, the river would already have dried up and we would run out of water. Now, thanks to the wells, we have water nearby and available at all times,” says Mazabalo Yobou, one of Kassi’s leading market gardeners.

In total, 20 market-gardening wells have been built in the village as part of the ‘Food for Assets (FFA)’ programme. Implemented by the Togolese government with the support of the World Food Programme (WFP), and thanks to financial backing from Australian Aid, this programme aims to strengthen the livelihoods of vulnerable communities through the construction of infrastructure and facilities tailored to their needs.

Infrastructure to boost production and income

Access to water is facilitating the development of agricultural activities in Kassi. Essotom Potoh, who has been growing tomatoes, okra, chillies and adémè since 2023, has seen his farm evolve. The availability of nearby water has enabled him to expand the area under cultivation and increase his harvests, with positive effects on his family’s income.

In addition to the market garden wells, the project has also enabled the rehabilitation of rural tracks to facilitate the transport of crops and access to markets. These achievements stem from a participatory approach that places communities at the heart of identifying needs and choosing the assets to be put in place

‘In this village, the project’s primary impact is social and the second is economic. On the social front, the market garden brings together producers from four villages who work together very closely. On the economic front, we are seeing improved yields and an increase in the area under cultivation,” explains Manawa Charlotte Gnassibou, the FFA focal point at the National Agency for Grassroots Development Support (ANADEB) in the Kara region.

Support also covers the development of new plots and the production of compost. Some producers have been able to purchase motorised pumps thanks to the growth of their businesses. Through this support, the programme aims to strengthen the beneficiaries’ productive capacities and promote a sustainable improvement in their living conditions.

Co-ordinated by the Ministry responsible for Grassroots Development, through ANADEB, with the support of the Ministries of Agriculture and National Education, the programme operates in several complementary areas: land restoration, reforestation, water collection and irrigation infrastructure, access roads and improved stoves.

Restoring land and preserving natural resources

In the canton of Défalé, the Lao mountain range is facing land degradation and the drying up of certain water sources. To help restore this environment, local communities began planting saplings in June 2024, with the programme’s support. The work is based on watershed management, an approach designed to slow down rainwater runoff, encourage its infiltration into the soil and improve conditions for vegetation growth.

Water and soil conservation works are being carried out on the slopes to limit erosion.

In the fields, ditches help to slow down the flow of water coming down from the mountains, reduce the risk of crop damage and promote the recharge of groundwater.

In the Kara region, four major mountainous sites are benefiting from these measures. At the Tchikawa site, 19,000 seedlings have been planted, according to information gathered from project stakeholders. More than 600 people are reported to have taken part in the work, according to Pitikabalo, chair of the village development committee.

These developments help to create more favourable conditions for land restoration and the continuation of agricultural activities. They form part of an approach to strengthen communities’ resilience to the effects of soil degradation and climate-related hazards.

Improved stoves: support for households

The programme also supports the manufacture of improved stoves using local materials. These stoves are designed to reduce firewood consumption and make cooking easier for households.

In Kassi, Awéki Symkpawé uses an improved stove to prepare tchoukoutou, a traditional local drink. Tchoro Malawé, who has also been trained in the manufacture of these stoves, is planning to set up an income-generating activity.

“We’ve learnt how to make these stoves. Now I can easily make them and also help other households in need,” she explains.

Beyond their domestic function, these stoves thus provide beneficiaries with a skill they can use to meet the needs of their community and, potentially, develop an economic activity.

The FFA also plans to build beneficiaries’ capacity in the management and maintenance of the assets produced, in order to promote their sustainable use.

School canteens supplied by local produce

Strengthening food resilience also involves school feeding. Since 2020, the Togolese government has been implementing a national school feeding programme to which the WFP contributes through the integrated school feeding approach based on local production, known as ‘Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF)’.

This approach aims to improve pupils’ diets whilst creating market opportunities for local farmers. It is based on a system that combines school meals, good nutrition, market gardening, food processing and the supply of canteens by producers’ organisations.

“A child who comes to school must be well-nourished and able to stay healthy in order to learn and achieve better results,” explains Gnandi Tabé, WFP programme assistant in Kara.

According to data provided during the mission, the scheme covers 242 schools and benefits around 77,824 schoolchildren in the Kara and Savanes regions. It also relies on 242 vegetable-growing units, 726 smallholder producer organisations and 1,800 women from cooperatives trained in food processing.

The programme is supported by several partners, notably the European Union, German development cooperation through KfW, Korean development cooperation (KOICA) and France.

In the schools involved, vegetable gardens produce vegetables used in meal preparation. Gardeners are trained in compost production, with support from the Institute for Advice and Technical Support (ICAT), to promote production practices tailored to the schools’ needs.

Some schools also have poultry-rearing units and processing equipment, including grain and spice mills. These facilities help to facilitate meal preparation and, depending on how the units are run, generate additional revenue for the canteens.

Local producers: a vital link in the school feeding chain

The link between the canteens and the producers is a central element of the scheme. In the communities concerned, producer organisations are identified to supply, in particular, maize, rice and cowpeas.

In collaboration with the FAO, producers receive technical guidance as well as support in the form of seeds and fertiliser. The aim is to boost local production and help ensure a steady supply of foodstuffs for the canteens.

The supply mechanism has also changed. According to the WFP, supported farmers must now hand over 25 per cent of their harvest to the canteen free of charge, whilst the remainder can be sold at market price.

“Thanks to this support, our yields have increased. For example, the amount of maize I am going to harvest far exceeds what I produced last year on the same area of land. The fertiliser and seeds are of very good quality,” says Tchilabalo Binéwaï, chair of the Kpinzindè Planned Agricultural Development Zone (ZAAP).

This link between agricultural production and school meals aims to support producers whilst helping to supply the beneficiary schools. It also promotes the development of local supply chains, in which farming communities play a part in meeting pupils’ food needs.

In Houloun, changes reported in schools

At EPP Houloun, which joined the scheme in 2024–2025 thanks to support from German development cooperation via KfW, school officials report an improvement in school attendance and exam results.

According to the headteacher, Nadjombé Kpante, 79 pupils sat the CEPD before the canteen was introduced, of whom 29 were declared successful. In the following session mentioned by the headteacher, 63 candidates sat the exam and 47 passed.

At the public nursery school in Houloun, the headteacher, Heyou Essodessam Edwige, also highlights the changes observed in the children’s behaviour in class.

“Before the canteen, the children were in a hurry to go home for their meals. Since we’ve had this canteen, they’ve been paying attention because they eat on time and the meals are balanced and healthy,” she explains.

The canteen also provides support to families, particularly parents who have to balance farm work with preparing meals. By enabling children to eat their meals at school, the scheme helps to ease some of the daily pressures on households.

These accounts illustrate the benefits that local stakeholders associate with school feeding. They also highlight the importance of continuing to monitor indicators of attendance, regularity and academic achievement in order to better assess the programme’s long-term results.

An integrated approach to building resilience

Through the FFA and HGSF programmes, the WFP supports the Togolese government in an approach that combines support for production, the conservation of natural resources, improved access to food and the strengthening of community capacities.

The market garden wells in Kassi, land restoration works, rural tracks, improved stoves and school vegetable gardens demonstrate the diversity of the interventions undertaken. Their complementary nature opens up opportunities to consolidate livelihoods, promote local production and strengthen school feeding programmes.

The continuation and expansion of these initiatives rely on the coordinated mobilisation of public authorities, communities, producer organisations, and technical and financial partners. In a context characterised by food insecurity and climate challenges, these interventions provide a framework for collaboration to support solutions rooted in local realities and contribute to the resilience of local populations.

For the WFP and its partners, the challenge is to consolidate the progress made, support communities in managing the assets they have built up, and continue efforts to foster a more resilient food system that serves the people of Togo.

Raymond DZAKPATA