Africa

Benin/Togo

Health
Mental health & psychosocial support
Nutrition
Protection
Water, sanitation & hygiene

2024

mission start date

national staff

expatriate staff

107 655

people supported

2024

mission start date

national staff

expatriate staff

107 655

people supported

Context

Since 2022, living conditions in Benin and Togo have deteriorated. While urban areas in the southern regions benefit from a relatively growing economy and better access to certain basic services, more remote areas in the northern regions face major structural challenges. Basic services are dysfunctional and socio-economic realities are marked by significant regional trends. Insecurity linked to armed groups, the situation in the Sahel and the increasing scarcity of resources are causing population displacements, with thousands of refugees and displaced people, the majority of whom are women and children vulnerable to growing violence. Basic services, which were already fragile, particularly in the health sector, are now insufficient to meet these new needs, and inter-community tensions, exacerbated by the presence of radical groups, worsen these vulnerabilities.

Our approach
Description of the mission

Given the deterioration in security in the northern regions of Togo and Benin since 2022, Première Urgence Internationale is working on the front line to meet the urgent needs of local populations, internally displaced persons, refugees and asylum seekers in the Alibori department (Benin) and the Savanes region (Togo).

Première Urgence Internationale works in close collaboration with local and national initiatives, supporting public health structures in Benin and assisting the Association d’Appui aux Activités de Santé Communautaire (3ASC) in Togo. Its projects aim to improve access to healthcare for the most vulnerable populations, strengthen the capacities of local stakeholders, and support the resilience of health systems.

Première Urgence Internationale
in action

Keen to respond to growing humanitarian needs while supporting local dynamics, Première Urgence Internationale anchors its actions in national and local health strategies. Its interventions aim to strengthen health systems in a sustainable manner by improving free access to essential care and treatment for the most deadly pathologies such as malaria and malnutrition, and by supporting community health through prevention, awareness-raising, and preparedness and response to health emergencies.

Aware of the challenges of access and connectivity in these regions, Première Urgence Internationale also relies on technological innovation to strengthen local capacities. In partnership with Kajou, Première Urgence Internationale is implementing the SANTÉ project, a digital solution that enables community health workers to train themselves using interactive modules accessible without an internet connection, helping improve the quality of community health services in the most remote areas, while promoting the autonomy and resilience of local actors.