Aide et Action supports the micro-enterprises of 30 women in Burkina Faso

Photo credit: Charlotte FORTUN

In order to support and strengthen the micro-enterprises of 30 women in Ouagadougou, Aide et Action is providing them with financial support by mobilizing funds. But not only that. In order to empower them, our project encourages women to find their own funding to carry out their projects. A salutary economic reinforcement.

Within the framework of its Formation au Service du Leadership Féminin (FORSELF) project in Burkina Faso, Aide et Action is mobilizing 11 550 000 CFA francs (nearly 20 000 euros) to support the microenterprises of 30 women in Ouagadougou. For this purpose, it was decided to set up a grant awarding committee. This committee is composed of the District 10, the Association for the Promotion of Non-Formal Education (APENF), the Provincial Directorate of Women, National Solidarity, the Family and Humanitarian Action of Kadiogo, and the General Directorate of Training  professional.

Transparency, efficiency and accountability

The primary objective is transparency and efficiency in the allocation of funds to beneficiaries. The project funding scheme is based on the principle of women entrepreneurs' participation in the project budget. Indeed, after the development of their business plans, the beneficiaries are obliged to make an equity contribution of 5 to 10% of the overall budget. The project supports them with 20 to 45% and for the remaining amount, the beneficiaries are invited to approach the various funding agencies at national level. In addition, following the analysis of the various business plans of the beneficiaries, the grant awarding committee urged the beneficiaries to rigorously manage the funds received in order to ensure the economic and sustainable profitability of the microenterprises supported.

The mayor of district 10, Jérémie SAWADOGO, indicated on behalf of the district council that: "The FORSELF project is a decisive step towards strengthening women's economic activities and contributes to the development of a more sustainable society.  to their full empowerment ."

Moments of joy and satisfaction

Each of the 30 promoters was asked to open a dedicated account in a banking institution and to sign a letter of commitment before the committee. The letter commits them to carry out the investment for which the grant was awarded, to manage it well, to accept monitoring and in-depth verification visits, to make no loans or donations of any kind and to carry out rigorous monitoring.

For the beneficiaries, these are moments of joy and satisfaction. Sandrine Tlboudo, a soap company promoter, says that this support will add to what she is already doing in the field. " This support will help us to buy equipment: a cutting table, a mixer, a buffer stamper, etc. We will be able to produce the soap ourselves, especially in large quantities ". In the same vein, Mamata Compaore, another beneficiary, a vegetable seller, is delighted with this funding, which will enable her new ideas to become a reality. " The support comes as a relief and makes our dreams come true. I am going to set up a room to display the products"she said. Finally, Martine Passeba Wango, a pastry chef, believes that: " This support will strengthen our activities by enabling us to acquire equipment such as a refrigerator and an oven in order to increase the level of production and above all to offer new recipes to customers ."

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