Atakpamé, Togo, November 7, 2025 – The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in Togo and the Ministry of Environment held two workshops in Kara (November 3&4) and Atakpamé (November 6&7) to present a diagnostic study of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) governance in Togo and proceed with its validation by all stakeholders. The mission and its report have been conducted in the scope of the “Strengthening the resilience of vulnerable populations to climate change through sustainable forest management” project.  

Designed to reinforce the management of organizations and cooperatives involved in the shea value chain and strengthen capacities, this diagnosis and its recommendations will help build a stronger shea production sector in the country. By validating this study on the shea value chain governance, the government continues to demonstrate its commitment to building a resilient economy that will create opportunities for women and young people of the selected municipalities.  

In his opening statement, EKPE Kodjo Agbéko, Prefect of the Ogou locality, stated how important the shea sector is for his constituents: “The shea nut industry plays a strategic role in the rural economy. (…) However, despite its considerable potential, the shea sector faces several challenges related to governance, the structuring of stakeholders, product promotion, and resource sustainability.” 

The report identified several key strategies to ensure the sector’s long-term sustainability. These include strengthening cooperative structures, promoting income diversification for stakeholders, and adopting an integrated approach that combines ecological restoration, human and institutional capacity building, commercial development, and social inclusion. 

According to Dr KASSAMADA Komlan Mensah, mayor of Ogou 1 municipality: “The sustainable management of this plant species in a country such as ours is a strategic necessity. It should also be noted that promoting its value chain has been identified as one of the key pillars for achieving the objectives of the Program for the Development of Non-Timber Forest Products (2018-2025) in Togo.” 

On behalf of GGGI’s representative in Togo, John-Philippe Alavo, Senior Program Officer, assured that the workshops would provide insight into issues related to shea governance, cooperative structures, value chain actors, regulatory actors, and many others.

The GGGI country program in Togo is implementing projects to strengthen the country’s green growth in the areas of forest resource management, green mobility, and many others. The validation of this assessment is instrumental for the development of the shea industry and for the resilience of local communities. 

About the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)  

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) was founded as a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization in 2012 at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. GGGI supports its Member States in transitioning their economies toward a green growth model that simultaneously achieves poverty reduction, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. With 53 Member States and 30 Partner countries and regional integration organizations in the process of accession, GGGI delivers programs and projects in over 57 countries. These initiatives encompass developing innovative green growth solutions, technical support, capacity building, policy planning & implementation, and assistance in building a pipeline of bankable green investment projects, project financing, investments, and knowledge sharing. GGGI’s work contributes to its Member States’ efforts to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals and the Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement.    

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For more information, visit:  https://gggi.org 

For Media inquiries contact:  

(GGGI Togo)
Omaw Vatussias BUAME, 
Communications Assistant
Info_Togo@gggi.org