Driven by the need to strengthen legal preparedness for effective and efficient humanitarian action, the TRC, in conjunction with the ANPC organised a capacity building workshop on DL aimed at strengthening the legal frameworks for DRM/DRR and CCA in Togo. The workshop was part of the “Institutional Capacity Building on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in Togo” (RIC-ACC) focused on creating an enabling environment for effective disaster management in response to the remaining humanitarian challenges affecting the country (human mobility risks, protection of affected people contrasting with the gaps in the current laws and policies). Now in its 3rd Phase, the RIC-ACC project capitalises on the learnings from the previous phases, particularly on community-level resilience planning and operational coordination.
Indeed, historical data and operational experience from previous disasters have been instrumental in identifying priority areas to embed in the domestic legislation: coordination, facilitation of international assistance, disaster risk financing, early warning/early action and locally-led action. This opportunity gathered legal experts and practitioners from relevant departments and ministries under the leadership of National Agency for Civil Protection (ANPC) to identify pathways towards a comprehensive DRM/DRR & CCA framework. As stated by Lieutenant Colonel Yoma BAKA – Director General of ANPC in his opening remarks, “Togo needs a strong legal framework for disaster management and we, members of the National Platform for DRR, all have role to play in this”.
Building upon the technical guidance provided by the IFRC disaster law tools and informed by the current state of the disaster management legal landscape, discussions revolved around the key orientations to promote greater coordination and integration between the actors involved in disaster risk management. Participants were regrouped in the National Platform for DRR (PNRRC), which is the synergy framework for DRR integration in relevant development plans and for joint advocacy for resource mobilisation. In alignment with the international and regional standards, the common ambition is to establish an overarching DRR Law that would be echoed in additional texts (policies, strategies, plans, including sectoral laws) to ensure the mainstreaming and prioritization of DRR/CCA.
In light of this collective engagement, IFRC Disaster Law, in support of the Togolese Red Cross, remains committed to provide the technical guidance necessary for the development of the DRM Law. Previous research on the DRM frameworks highlighted the areas of improvement that would need to be taken into consideration in this legislative process. As such, a key outcome of the workshop to maintain this collective engagement was the establishment of a roadmap towards the adoption of the DRR Law. The progress will be tracked by an ad hoc committee (created at the end of the workshop) comprised of relevant authorities and stakeholders. Led by the ANPC, the drafting exercise will be advised by the General Secretary of the Government (SGG). The final draft will then be submitted to the Law Commission of the National Assembly that will support its validation. In the meantime, discussions around the required resources will take place as the work goes on. 
In parallel, this workshop not only reinforced the understanding of the auxiliary role of the Togolese Red Cross but also the trust from public authorities. Now more than before, the National Society is perceived as a key technical partner for disaster law-related efforts in addition to other areas of expertise in the humanitarian field. Although we currently are in the final steps of the RIC-ACC project, the secured ambition of having a DRR Law and the contribution of the National Society will be held beyond its lifespan. In that spirit, Mr Jacques SANDA, on behalf of the National President of CRT, acknowledged that “(…) this close partnership between the CRT and ANPC, along with the active involvement of stakeholders are key for bringing this ambition to fruition.”