Burkina /Economic empowerment: 140 women and girls benefit from income-generating activity kits in Kaya

On Tuesday November 12, 2024, the town of Kaya hosted an official handover ceremony for Income Generating Activities (IGA) kits benefiting 140 women and girls. Organized by Plan International Burkina Faso, in collaboration with its partner, the association Action citoyenne et communautaire pour la résilience et le développement (ACCORD), this initiative aims to support the economic empowerment of beneficiary women and girls through the establishment of entrepreneurial activities.

This action is part of the project entitled "Quality education and protection against violence in the Centre-nord region of Burkina Faso / NNO4", financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the tune of 272,201,650 FCFA. The project aims to improve access to quality education in a safe environment for children, particularly girls and children with disabilities, affected by the humanitarian crisis in the Centre-Nord region.

Valérie Gustave Sawadogo, President of the ACCORD association, explained that the beneficiaries were selected from amongfrom 740 applications received by a dedicated committee, taking into account the vulnerability and relevance of the projects submitted.

Each kit is worth 100,000 FCFA and takes into account the choice of IGA made by each beneficiary.
He also indicated that a follow-up is planned to accompany the beneficiaries and reinforce their operational capacities, with the aim of guaranteeing their socio-economic stability within their households. The President of ACCORD also invited the beneficiaries to use these kits wisely, so that the objective of the NNO4 project is achieved.

The regional director of Plan International Burkina, Kaya office, Mathieu Mandi, stressed the importance of this emergency project, set up in partnership with the ACCORD association, to meet the needs of populations affected by the crisis. According to him, the IGA kits distributed are a direct response to the needs expressed by local communities.

According to Zakaria Ouédraogo, Provincial Director for Humanitarian Action in Sanmatenga, this equipment will play a key role in the economic empowerment of beneficiaries, enabling them to immediately launch their income-generating activities.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank Plan International Burkina and its partner ACCORD, who have already provided assistance to vulnerable people in Sanmatenga. We invite the beneficiaries to make proper use of the materials they have just received, as these are complete kits that can enable them to start their income-generating activities as of today. We really encourage them to take advantage of this support, so that their families and children can also benefit," said Zakaria Ouédraogo, Provincial Director of Humanitarian Action in Sanmatenga.

On behalf of the beneficiaries, Marie Madeleine Nikièma expressed her gratitude on receiving her breeding kit, comprising two sheep (male and female). She promised to put all her energy into their upkeep, so as to see her flock multiply by next year, thus ensuring a sustainable source of income for her family.

Implemented by Plan International Burkina in collaboration with the association Action citoyenne et communautaire pour la résilience et le développement, the "Quality education and protection against violence et protection contre la violence dans le Centre-nord du Burkina Faso / NNO4" project was funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to project manager Saidou Kiendrébéogo, this 12-month project, running from January to December 2024, is being carried out solely in the commune of Kaya, in the province of Sanmatenga, in the Centre-Nord region, and aims to reach 7,144 direct beneficiaries anddirect beneficiaries and 21,300 indirect beneficiaries who are vulnerable children and young people (IDP girls and boys and hosts, students, including those with disabilities), women and vulnerable communities.

Source: lefaso.net