Project Description

The Federation of NGOs in Togo is a national platform bringing together more than 220 civil society organizations working for sustainable development and citizen participation. The platform operates in a context of shrinking civic space, reduced funding for civil society, and growing expectations in terms of governance and digital transformation.

Before cycle 6, FONGTO faced several internal challenges. It did not have an updated strategic plan, lacked a structured knowledge management policy, and did not have sufficient digital tools to support collaboration and information sharing within the umbrella organization. The project addressed these gaps by focusing on three related areas: strategic planning, knowledge management, and digital collaboration.

Through the project, FONGTO developed a 2026–2030 strategic plan accompanied by a theory of change. This gave the organization a clearer direction for planning, decision-making, and priority setting. The process included participatory workshops, an organizational assessment with member organizations, planning sessions, and validation moments that helped strengthen shared ownership.

FONGTO also developed a knowledge management policy and tools to document practices, store information, and share lessons learned. Staff indicated that this will facilitate access to data, prevent starting from scratch with each project, and strengthen internal learning.

The third major component was the creation of FONGTO Connect, an integrated digital platform that facilitates online meetings, communication between members, and data collection on activities. Members can now share information about their activities directly through the platform, which improves information flows and coordination.

For NGO networks, FONGTO’s experience shows the value of linking strategy, knowledge management, and digital tools rather than treating them as separate reforms.