Completed project
Support Project for Women Rice Parboilers (PAERIZ)
April 2014 - March 2019
CAD$ 6,456,000
Global Affairs Canada: CAD$ 5,740,000
CECI: CAD$ 379,200
2,734 parboilers
and approximately 9,145 people indirectly
In Burkina Faso, rice parboiling is a traditional activity passed down from mother to daughter. The PAERIZ project contributes to improving the socio-economic living conditions of women in the rural regions of Hauts Bassins, Cascades, and Boucle du Mouhoun. To achieve our objectives, we rely on the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Burkina Faso, the Burkina Faso Interprofessional Rice Committee (CIR-B), and the National Union of Rice Parboilers (UNERIZ).
This project aimed to increase the economic power of women parboilers and promote their professional empowerment. The actions undertaken focused on adopting and complying with market quality requirements, strengthening parboiler organizations, profitability, professionalization, and recognition of parboiling businesses, and representing women's interests in the rice sector development.
Countering the Collapse of a National and Traditional Economic Activity
When Women Reclaim Rice Parboiling
At the turn of the 2000s, following the privatization of the rice sector, white rice imports increased in Burkina Faso. Refusing to witness the collapse of a national economic activity, the disappearance of the ancestral practice of rice parboiling, and the decline of paddy rice (with greater nutritional qualities), hundreds of Burkinabé women bought unsold rice productions from local cooperatives.
These women then began parboiling it and selling it in local markets. Supported by an initial CECI project carried out from 2009 to 2014, more than a thousand parboilers were able to organize into professional associations. The impact of this first project on working conditions, job creation, food security, quality, and hygiene standards was such that the Ministry of Agriculture of Burkina Faso wanted to see the experience extended. PAERIZ thus came to strengthen the capacities of parboilers.
Results that matter
14%
increase in the amount of rice marketed by the 5 unions between 2016 and September 2017
31
women trained in parboiling techniques
45%
increase in the total amount of credits granted by financial institutions to the 5 unions between 2014 and 2017
96
people trained in gender equality
1
agreement with the Ministry of National Education and Literacy for the supply of parboiled rice in the country's school canteens
Our partners
Thank you to our financial and implementation partners, without whom this project would not be possible.
Related publications
Research & publication
CECI - PAERIZ : Fund to facilitate access to credit (in French)
Research & publication
CECI - PAERIZ: Family Oriented Management. Technical sheet (in French)
Research & publication
CECI - PAERIZ: Positive Masculinities. Conceptual and methodological guide (in French)
Research & publication
CECI - PAERIZ: MenEngage Club in Burkina Faso. Technical sheet (in French)
Research & publication
CECI - PAERIZ: Mini-daycare. Modeling of the process. Good practices and lessons learned (in French)
Research & publication