France Volontaires and ANVT commit to a new framework of cooperation – Togo-Presse

The National Agency for Volunteering in Togo (ANVT) and France Volontaires signed a new framework cooperation agreement in November 2022. The content of this agreement, intended to strengthen their partnership, was presented to national and international actors, in Lome. The meeting made it possible to communicate on the program to revive citizen engagement and revitalize French volunteering in Togo, after the COVID-19 crisis. It was also a framework to inform the audience about the deployment of the first Togolese volunteers in France, under the status of International Solidarity Volunteers (VSI).

The new framework cooperation agreement linking the ANVT to France Volontaires aims to give new impetus to their partnership. This, by committing to carry out projects that contribute to greater recognition of volunteering, to the development of cross-mobility between Togo and France, to the mobilization of technical and financial partners, as well as to the strengthening of national volunteering infrastructures. other partner countries. This framework agreement will also make it possible to strengthen actions to promote and enhance the development of volunteering in both countries and internationally, within the framework of various institutional arrangements. This cooperation will also contribute to the emergence of more inclusive, united and open societies to the world, as well as to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The program to revive citizen engagement and revitalize volunteering in Togo, funded by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, through the Delegation for Relations with Civil Society and Partnerships (DGM/CIV), falls within the meaning of this agreement. This program has two main components, the first of which is articulated around the positioning of 3 Franco-Togolese pairs with Togolese CSOs (SARR AFRIQUE, ESPOIR PLUS, ODHI), in direct support to 3 municipalities (Kozah 1, Tchaoudjo 1, Ogou 1 ). The second part concerns the sending of 2 Togolese volunteers of International Solidarity (VSI) of reciprocity from two municipalities (Est-Mono 1 and Lacs 1) to French municipalities and CSOs. The first French volunteers arrived in Togo and were installed with their pairs in Sokodé and Kara.

Togo, 1^is countries to deploy volunteers on a reciprocal basis under the VSI system

The 2 Togolese volunteers in reciprocal VSI will leave for France on April 16 for a one-year mission. They are named Kpatcha Wyaosso Akaba from the commune Est-Mono 1, and Toyi Edo Sanvee from the commune Lacs 1. Mr. Akaba, who goes to the metropolis of Rennes, will work on waste management, while his comrade Sanvee, who will fly to the towns of Saint Cyr-l’école and Houdan, has chosen civil status as the theme.

According to the advisor for cooperation and cultural action, Ms. Myriam Habil, the reciprocity mechanism was reserved for civic services (young people aged 25, for a maximum period of one year). Togo will thus be the first country to deploy volunteers in reciprocity under the “International Solidarity Volunteering“. This approach, she said, was made possible, thanks to the programming law on solidarity development and the fight against global inequalities (LPDSLIM) promulgated on August 4, 2021.

Volunteering, a tool for sustainable community development

In his speech, the director of cabinet of the Ministry of Grassroots Development, Youth and Youth Employment, Mr. Yawotsè Vovor, indicated that volunteering occupies an important place in society, in social and economic matters. . It allows men and women to participate in their own growth. Also, it allows, through individual and collective actions, to strengthen social cohesion and trust. It is therefore an essential sustainable development tool for communities. In the opinion of Mr. Vovor, the program to revive civic engagement and revitalize volunteering in Togo represents an opportunity for young Togolese to strengthen their capacity in France and makes it possible to intensify the interventions of local organizations in their development activities, through the importation of knowledge and skills from France. ” The opening of the VSI to reciprocity offers the opportunity to build longer reciprocal projects (two to three years, compared to one year previously) addressing ever more relevant development issues and mobilizing a new public of more competent young people, in addition civic service projects. It will be, like the national skills volunteering, at the service of the development actors of our two countries (CSOs and Municipalities) especially in the current context of bringing territories together. “, explained Mr. Vovor.

Today, International Reciprocal Volunteering is one of the responses identified by the Togolese government to strengthen the social and human skills of volunteers, with a view to their civic engagement in a multicultural context. Since 2015, more than 31 Togolese volunteers have been mobilized for international missions, including 23 in civic service in France. The hope, through this new framework cooperation agreement, is to see this number grow over the years.

The Mayor of Lacs 1, Alexis Aquéréburu and the Executive Director of the NGO ODHI, Hanam Ametépé, in turn, thanked the Togolese and French government for their commitment to make volunteering a specific and long-term program.

Komla GOKATSE