Urbis Foundation
Welcome
As a charitable foundation, we are dedicated to promoting the use of renewable energies and protecting our climate and environment. For more than 20 years now, we have been sensitising for a more sustainable use of our resources and offering people a perspective for a brighter future.
Regionally, we focus our activities on Sub-Saharan Africa. A special emphasis lies on our partner country Togo, where we have been implementing projects since 2002. Additionally, we offer funding support to initiatives in Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda, which advocate the use and implementation of renewable energies. Here you can download our anniversary brochure from 2022, which presents highlights of our multifaceted work over the last 20 years (in German).
Our achievements
1418
Students educated
in our
vocational school
30
Solar plants installed
240
Farm students educated
299
Solar-Interns supported
17
Medical wards
supplied annualy with
medical equipment
110
Nursery schools supplied with equippmet and toys
61
Seamstreses trained
110
Pupils supported per year
Sucess Stories Guédopé Françoise - A bright future with the Urbis Fondation
Guédopé Françoise had already trained in conventional electrical engineering, but the big professional breakthrough was still a long way off. The turning point came when she received specialist training in photovoltaics from the Urbis-Togo Foundation. This training opened up new prospects in a booming sector: solar energy.
Sucess Stories Soulimatou Alassani and her shop.
Between 2017 and 2018, Alassani Salimatou completed an IT training programme at the Urbis Foundation's media library. Looking back, she describes this place as far more than just a training centre - it was a space that nurtured her curiosity, strengthened her skills and awakened her entrepreneurial spirit.
Sucess Stories The Farm of Akizilelou Arom
Every year, our training farm CPIA (Centre de Promotion des Initiatives Agricoles) trains agroentrepreneurs (AEs), such as Akizilelou Arom. The 24-year-old was trained as an AE in 2020-2021 and was able to start his own farm in the Est-Mono prefecture in eastern Togo with the start-up capital from URBIS FOUNDATION. On his 9 ha farm, he grows maize, soybeans, cassava, yam, sorghum and nibeb, and also breeds goats, sheep and poultry. With the start-up capital, he was even able to build a house in his village.
Sucess Stories From URBIS solar training to permanent employment
In March 2021, Tchala Ekéma took part in an intensive one-week solar training course on the installation and maintenance of photovoltaic solar systems organised by URBIS FOUNDATION Togo (UFT) in Lomé. Following the training, she was funded by UFT for a three-month internship at KYA-Energy Group, where she got a permanent job after graduating with a degree in civil and electrical engineering.
Sucess Stories Project "Birth certificate for all"
In Togo, many children do not yet have a birth certificate - we support them to receive one retroactively.
Sucess Stories The café of Madame Aridja Tchakonde
Thanks to a microcredit granted by URBIS, Madame Aridja Tchakonde was able to establish a café, which she runs today with five employees.
Sucess Stories The boutique of Madame Mouraféra Sallassis
With a microcredit granted by URBIS, Madame Mouraféra Sallassis was able to open a boutique, which she runs with her daughters.
News
We regularly report about news from our projects and partners.
Togo joins the Maschinenringe network
As part of their ongoing cooperation in Senegal - where 16 women's groups in the Matam region are being supported as part of the EDM project in partnership with Maschinenring Senegal - the Urbis Foundation and the Maschinenring Foundation are continuing their commitment to sustainable agricultural development in West Africa.
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Better harvests with solar energy: Project launch in Western Uganda
In January 2025, the Urbis Foundation started a new three-year project in cooperation with the Rural Women Empowerment Network (RUWONET) in the Kyenjojo district in the Rwenzori region (Western Uganda).
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Solar thermal training for tradespeople in Sokodé
From 8 to 11 July 2025, the Urbis Foundation Togo organized a practical training course on solar thermal systems for 16 craftspeople (including 4 women).
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