Tostan’s Community Empowerment Program (CEP)
Tostan

Solution Overview & Benefits
Tostan’s Community Empowerment Program (CEP) is a holistic, human rights-based education program delivered over three years in local languages. It empowers communities with the tools and knowledge to address issues like health, education, gender equality, child protection, and governance. The program uses a participatory model that fosters dialogue and collective action.
Key benefits and features:
- Delivered in local languages and tailored to cultural contexts
- Covers human rights, health, hygiene, literacy, numeracy, and project management
- Strengthens social cohesion and civic participation
- Has led to widespread community-led abandonment of harmful practices like female genital cutting and child marriage
- Promotes women’s leadership and economic empowerment
- Designed to be replicated and scaled across regions
History & Development
Tostan was founded in 1991 by Molly Melching. The CEP was developed in response to a need for non-formal education that reflects the realities and languages of rural African communities. Over the years, the program has evolved based on community feedback and extensive field experience. It has been implemented in over 8,000 communities across West Africa, and its community-led approach has been widely recognized for its effectiveness in promoting sustainable development.
Availability
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Available: Senegal, Mali, Guinea, The Gambia, and other West African countries
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Pricing: Available through partnerships with governments and NGOs. Contact Tostan for collaboration opportunities or implementation support.
Specifications
- Format: In-person facilitation
- Duration: 3 years (divided into modules)
- Languages: Local African languages (e.g., Wolof, Pulaar, Mandinka)
- Delivery: By trained local facilitators
- Modules: Human rights, democracy, health, hygiene, literacy, project planning
Additional Information
The CEP includes a Community Management Committee (CMC) that ensures inclusive participation, including representation from women and youth. Many graduates of the program go on to lead local initiatives, engage with local government, and start income-generating projects.
Tostan also offers capacity-building resources and works with governments and NGOs to adapt the CEP to new contexts.
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