PROJECT TOGO started in the classic way: natural forest afforestation in West Africa, CO₂ certificates for our customers, done. That's how it should be. But it wasn't. Because at some point we realized: There's a lot more going on. Projects were being created around our trees that were making a real difference to the lives of local people. Suddenly it was no longer just about tons of CO₂, but about real people with real needs.
The result? A climate protection project that shows what is possible when you think outside the box.
"PROJECT TOGO proves that climate protection can do more. Much more. A simple reforestation project has become a movement that shows what is possible when you put people at the center."
More than just trees
What really moves PROJECT TOGO.
Where community creates the future
Healthy village communities are the foundation of everything. That's why we invest in jobs that last. Not just by planting trees, but as foresters, project coordinators and health workers. The special thing: These jobs are long-term. Whoever plants a tree today will also look after it tomorrow.
Mobile clinics bring health to the village
Vaccinations, check-ups, education about hygiene and nutrition. Medical care comes to the people, not the other way around. Women and children in particular benefit from the health programs.
Education that gets through
Training in sustainable agriculture and forestry. But also very practical things: How do I build a beehive? How does modern palm oil production work? Knowledge that translates directly into income.
Smoke-free cooking stoves for better air
The energy-efficient cooking stoves from "Die Ofenmacher e.V." reduce the amount of firewood required by up to 90% and are virtually smoke-free. One stove saves up to 2.5 tons of CO₂ per year and protects the health of families. We train local stove builders so that knowledge spreads quickly.
When women take off economically
In Togo, women are the pillars of society. They take care of the household, look after the children and work in the fields. But often they cannot read, write or speak French, the official language. We are changing that.
The first nationwide women's education center
A space for workshops, education and exchange. Here, women not only learn to read and write, but also economic skills. How do I market my products? How do I run a cooperative?
The Kotokopé cooperative is flourishing
With a new production house equipped with efficient ovens and a modern palm oil press, yields have increased noticeably. The women produce palm oil and soap for the local market. Working together not only strengthens their economic power, but also their sense of community.
Literacy as the key to independence
Our courses go beyond just reading and writing. We develop fine motor skills and impart practical business knowledge. Every woman who can read can also claim her rights.
Bees: Buzzing sources of income
A domestic tropical wood beehive is home to up to 40,000 bees. They can produce up to 7 kg of honey in their first year, and up to 15 kg the following year. Five hives are enough to feed a family and ensure that the children can go to school.
Our beekeeping school teaches everything from hive construction to honey harvesting, supported by in-depth knowledge about African wild bees. After an intensive one-year course with an examination and certificate, we help them to set up their own apiaries.
Rabbit breeding empowers women
Women, often bound to traditional roles, find an opportunity for financial autonomy in rabbit farming. In addition to housework, they can generate an income by independently managing hutch construction and breeding.
Sheep as clever fire protection
We are taking an innovative approach to the frequent forest fires: By rearing sheep for local meat requirements, fallow land fires are avoided. The sheep eat the dry grass before it can burn. At the same time, we are improving animal husbandry and demonstrating how sustainable agriculture works.
Miagboko: Our environment is clean
Just imagine: There are plastic bags, empty bottles and packaging waste everywhere on the streets. For many people in Togo, this is part of everyday life. But this is where our story begins.
From small workshops to a big movement
We started modestly in 2022: Six groups learned to make useful things from discarded plastic bags. Ropes, mats, even decorative key rings. But it quickly became clear that it was about more than just crafts. It's about awareness.
Science meets practice Together with Trier University of Applied Sciences, we systematically analyzed the waste generated in Kpalimé. 552 photos, detailed categories, material analyses. Black plastic bags from the local market turned out to be particularly interesting. Students used these to develop concepts: Woven baskets, knitted ropes, bags.
Miagboko: a movement is born
Today, a group of local volunteers work under the name "Miagboko" - "Our environment is clean". They have been meeting regularly since October 2024, holding training sessions and planning campaigns. The aim: to show people that small changes can have a big impact.
Novissikomé as a model district
We have chosen a district and are focusing specifically on waste separation there. We work together with households, churches, bars and sports clubs. The "Zero Sachets au Collège Protestant" campaign is running at a secondary school - pupils organize collection campaigns and raise awareness among their families.
Eco Jogging: sport meets environmental protection
Once a month, we go running together and collect garbage. Exercise meets environmental protection - and suddenly it's fun to campaign for a clean city.
The next step: a shredder machine
Our big goal: the first plastic shredder machine in Kpalimé. It would turn plastic waste into valuable granulate. This not only reduces the burden on the environment, but also creates jobs.
Why it works
People who have been resigned for years are finding new hope. The first households are joining in. The first young people are getting involved. Behavioral changes take time, but the first step has been taken.
Clean water within easy reach
Long walks to contaminated water are particularly stressful for children and women. By building wells and filter systems, we guarantee clean drinking water in our project communities.
Before: 3 hours walk to the nearest water point
After: Clean water within 15 minutes
Solar energy brings light into the darkness
Countless villages are cut off from the electricity grid. Children learn by the dim light of kerosene lamps. We provide reliable electricity where it matters most. Cell phone charging stations improve communication between villages.
Energy forests as a sustainable solution
Each inhabitant of the project region needs 690 kg of firewood per year. Instead of cutting down intact forests, we plant energy forests near the villages. Teak is particularly suitable: the first harvest can be made after three years and new shoots grow back. Whenever trees are removed, we replant twice as many.
When the weather no longer cooperates
Climate change has long been a reality in Togo. Unstable weather conditions with extreme rainfall and hot spells are leading to noticeable changes in agriculture. Climate forecasts show significant declines in grain harvests - up to 15% crop losses by 2059.
Syntropic agroforestry as the answer
This innovative method is based on the natural succession of pioneer, secondary and climatic plants. The system should ultimately be self-sufficient, store water better and be more resistant to weather changes.
How it works:
Trees and shrubs are combined with arable crops
The system stores rainwater and promotes the nutrient cycle
Trees bind larger amounts of CO₂
Biodiversity makes the system more resistant to disease
Our 5-point plan:
Construction of a test area for presentation and training purposes
Establishment of tree nurseries for seedlings
Construction of an education center for workshops
Conducting workshops on cultivation, processing and marketing
Publicizing the concept at regional and national level
This is how you support our social projects in Togo.
The deal is simple: you choose our combined project "Germany & Togo Plus" and get three times the impact for your money. Your CO₂ compensation runs via a certified project - cleanly offset, as it should be. That alone would be a voluntary achievement for which you should pat yourself on the back.
But we go one better: in addition to this CO₂ compensation, a total of 5 euros per tonne of CO₂ flows into our German forest projects as well as into PROJECT TOGO with all its social projects in West Africa. So you are not only offsetting your emissions, but also supporting forest protection on your doorstep and real development aid in Togo.
In concrete terms, this means that your CO₂ offsetting finances women's cooperatives, beekeeping schools, wells, solar systems, plastic recycling, smoke-free cooking stoves and climate-adapted agriculture. All projects that make a real difference to the lives of local people.
What our customers say
"In natureOffice, we have found a reliable partner for our sustainability projects. Their expertise and excellent advice have helped us (...) We are proud to also be able to support PROJECT TOGO."
Gernot Goebel | Project Manager Sustainability | Brown-Forman Deutschland GmbH
