Burkina Faso

Inclusive and sustainable development

CECI operates in Burkina Faso since 1985, playing a pivotal role in designing and implementing diverse projects aimed at supporting inclusive agri-food value chains, empowering women-led enterprises and fostering opportunities for youth. Central to our initiatives lie the principles of sound ecosystem stewardship and adapting value chains to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Our endeavors in increasing the sustainability of the shea and rice sectors stand as significant achievements. CECI’s programs in Burkina Faso aim to contribute to conflict prevention within the region.

Burkina Faso Mission Club Ambassadrice Février2017 Laurine Klein 473

1985

Year of creation

190,869

women reached by activities over the past 3 years

241

volunteers

16

partners

Priorities

Inclusive governance and peacebuilding

We support conflict prevention and peacebuilding projects, emphasizing social cohesion and sustainable resource management within local development plans. Additionally, we engage in Fermes écoles paix, cohésion sociale et résilience économique (School-farms for peace, social cohesion and economic resilience) through the Nouveau Québec sans frontières (NQSF) project. These educational farms, focused on women and youth, foster peace and social cohesion, by offering peace training and promoting eco-friendly production methods, thus stimulating green economic activities and fostering leadership in peace and human rights advocacy.

Adaptation to climate change

CECI-Burkina Faso employs awareness-raising, scientific knowledge transfer and the adoption of new agricultural practices to reduce the climate vulnerability of women and their communities. We promote innovative alternatives to wood energy for their businesses and enhance the capacities of partner organizations in agroecology and the valorization of shea butter and parboiled rice residues. Additionally, we advocate for sustainable management of shea parks to regenerate the environment, prevent tree aging and safeguard this income source for women.

Women & girls’ rights

CECI-Burkina Faso focuses its activities on the right to education for women and girls. The country faces an illiteracy rate of the population approaching 60%, and obstacles to access to education such as early pregnancy and forced marriage. In this area, our main project, Project for Institutional and Technical Support for Equity (PARITÉ) implements activities to improve the quality of learning for girls.

Women’s economic empowerment

We support the development of women entrepreneurship through targeted initiatives. For example, the Rice Parboilers Support Project (PAERIZ) has strengthened rice parboiling organizations, transforming them into profitable, professional and respected enterprises. Through these actions, women will be able to assert their rights, improve their living conditions with increased income and have sufficient resources to meet their needs and ensure their current and future autonomy.