Togo Kicks Off Its National Efforts for IYV 2026
IYV 2026: First Meeting of the National Coordination Committee
On Wednesday, 11 March 2026, the first meeting of the national coordination committee for the International Year of Volunteers (IYV) 2026 was held at the headquarters of the National Volunteer Agency in Togo (ANVT).
Officially launched on 5 December 2025 on the occasion of International Volunteer Day, the International Year of Volunteers is celebrated worldwide, including in Togo, through a series of activities aimed at promoting civic engagement and the contribution of volunteers to development.
Launch of Preparations for IYV 2026 in Togo
This meeting, marking the official start of national preparations, allowed committee members to get to know one another, discuss their mission and operating modalities, present and validate the proposed draft national action plan, and exchange ideas on the draft budget and resource mobilization strategies.
The ANVT Director General Calls for Collective Mobilization
The Director General of ANVT, Dr. Omar AGBANGBA, the focal point for IYV 2026 in Togo, presided over the meeting. His main mission is to bring together the stakeholders involved and lead the national campaign for the celebration.
In his remarks, he recalled the context of the IYV celebration, which recognizes volunteering as a powerful lever for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. He stressed that IYV 2026 offers an opportunity for synergy to highlight and measure volunteers’ contributions to sustainable development, further integrate volunteering into development planning, promote policies aimed at eliminating inequalities and risks associated with volunteering, create knowledge-sharing platforms to encourage new forms of volunteerism, and more.
“I invite us to work hand in hand so that Togo, through its dynamism, makes its mark on this celebration and that, beyond this event, we draw lessons to continue working in synergy to strengthen the promotion of volunteerism and remobilize all stakeholders around this cause,” he stated.
A MultiStakeholder Committee to Drive IYV 2026 in Togo
The national coordination committee is composed of various stakeholders, including representatives of the government, volunteerinvolving organizations present in Togo, civil society organizations, NGOs, volunteers, youth organizations, the private sector, and universities.
Its mission is to develop and implement the IYV 2026 Action Plan, which includes: nationwide awareness campaigns on volunteerism and the SDGs; promotion of civic engagement; initiatives to value and recognize volunteers; advocacy actions to integrate volunteering into public policies and the private sector; development of multistakeholder partnerships to strengthen the national volunteering ecosystem, and more.
A Key Step in Preparing IYV 2026 in Togo
This first meeting represents an important milestone in the preparation of IYV 2026 in Togo, reaffirming the country’s commitment to promoting volunteerism as a driver of sustainable development and social inclusion.
Learn more: AIV 2026 : Première rencontre du comité national de coordination | AGENCE NATIONALE DU VOLONTARIAT …