News Urbis Foundation Project Visits and Personal Exchanges in Togo

At the end of May, our project coordinator, Cornelia Dix, travelled to our partner country, Togo, for two weeks. The aim of the working visit was to monitor ongoing projects, strengthen ties with our partner organisations and develop shared visions for future cooperation.

On the one hand, the focus was on intensive discussions with the Urbis Foundation Togo, our long-standing partner organisation. On the other hand, the trip provided an opportunity to strengthen existing partnerships and forge new contacts for future collaboration.

Together with the Urbis Foundation Togo, numerous working sessions were held with the various specialist departments – ranging from agriculture, solar energy, health and social affairs, and education to monitoring, evaluation, accounting and third-party funding – to discuss project progress, challenges and the next steps in development. Visits to the CPIA training farm, the UFT vocational school and the library complemented the professional exchange and provided insights into the ongoing project work.

In addition, the programme included numerous meetings with existing and potential partners. Discussions with the new GIZ Country Director, the solar energy company Suntec Togo and various non-governmental organisations served to strengthen existing partnerships and explore new opportunities for collaboration. The Urbis Foundation presented its projects and activities and, together with its partners, identified potential areas for future collaboration. During the visit to Suntec Togo, for example, the focus was on opportunities for cooperation in the areas of solar training and work placement opportunities for young skilled workers.

Another item on the agenda was supporting various activities of the first ‘Maschinenring’ groups in Togo, established by the Maschinenring Foundation in cooperation with the Urbis Foundation. During the working visit, Cornelia was able to gain a first-hand impression of the progress made so far and the activities underway. In addition to a workshop with those in charge and visits to the three pilot Maschinenring organisations, the programme also included discussions with representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Institute for Agricultural Advisory Services and Technical Support (ICAT). These provided an opportunity to exchange views on the current status of the project and the next steps towards institutionally embedding the Maschinenring organisations in Togo.

The trip concluded with a meeting with Club Jeunes Talents – a network of committed students supported by a scholarship from the Urbis Foundation. The members presented their activities in the fields of environmental protection and renewable energy, and impressively demonstrated their dedication to promoting sustainable development in Togo.

The trip has once again shown just how important personal interaction is to our work. Precisely because many of our projects are supported over a period of several years, regular on-site visits provide a valuable opportunity to keep track of current developments, reflect together on successes and challenges, and further strengthen our collaboration with our partners.