Togo: Strengthening the regulatory framework for foreign NGOs to ensure greater transparency in their activities
The Togolese government has recently tightened regulations governing the activities of international and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating within its borders. This move is part of a broader effort to increase transparency and ensure better oversight of these organizations’ operations.
In a circular issued on October 7, 2024, the Ministers of Development Planning and Territorial Administration mandated that foreign NGOs must comply with the provisions of Decree No. 2022-002/PR, which was adopted on January 5, 2022.
Under these new rules, any international or foreign NGO seeking to partner with the Togolese government is now required to obtain formal recognition of its status.
This applies to both new organizations and those that have been active in Togo prior to the implementation of the decree.
NGOs that signed program agreements before January 2022 but have yet to comply with the new requirements must regularize their status to avoid disruptions to their activities.
The decree sets out strict conditions, and failure to meet these will result in automatic rejection of requests for renewal or new agreements.
The government has granted a one-year grace period for organizations to bring themselves into compliance, as outlined in Article 28 of the decree.
Additionally, NGOs currently operating without prior authorization from the Ministry of Territorial Administration have six months to rectify their status.
Local authorities, including prefects, governors, mayors, and regional directors of development planning, have been instructed to widely disseminate this circular to the relevant NGOs.
This initiative is part of a larger strategy aimed at better regulating the financial flows of these organizations, with a focus on preventing the funding of illegal activities, including terrorism and money laundering.
Kodjovi Makafui
