Improving health
and income in Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso, Uniterra supports organizations that work on three issues. First, the program promotes local initiatives that work to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS and that provide support to people who live with the disease. Second, it encourages the economic growth of groups that produce and process agricultural goods. Uniterra also collaborates with an organization to integrate gender equality in every line of activity.

Prevention and control of HIV and AIDS in Burkina Faso

Despite the progress that has been achieved, the health situation remains distressing in Burkina Faso, especially in terms of HIV and AIDS. While substantial efforts have enabled the infection rate to be brought down from 7.17 in 1997 to 1.6 in 2008, the number of new cases continues to rise, especially among young people and women, and the number of orphans is also increasing.

ON THE GROUND

Uniterra’s partners seek to increase access to HIV and AIDS prevention services. They also aim to provide support for infected persons and for those affected by HIV.

In the last few years, partners have worked to medicalize the control of HIV infection. At present, 14,000 more people than in 2005 benefit from control services provided by these partners. What is the current goal? To improve the quality of these services (e.g., strengthening voluntary screening, psychological and social support, etc.).

Improving control involves the promotion of activities that generate income to benefit vulnerable people. After setting up an infirmary, an African youth cooperative and a cybercafé (among other actions), the partners have undertaken a great increase in activities so that target groups can look after their needs.

UNITERRA HEALTH PARTNERS IN BURKINA FASO

ADIPS - Association pour le Développement des Initiatives de Prévention en Santé
AEAD - Association Évangélique d’Aide au Développement
REVS+ - Responsabilité – Espoir – Vie – Solidarité
SEMUS - Solidarité et Entraide Mutuelle au Sahel
PAMAC - Programme d’appui au monde communautaire
CICDOC - Centre d’information, de communication et de documentation
BURCASO - Conseil Burkinabè d’appui aux associations et ONG de lutte contre le VIH/SIDA

Economic development in Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso, rising levels of poverty remain a major challenge. To fight poverty, the country is relying heavily on the agricultural sector and thus on income growth for rural communities.

However, to be able to increase and diversify the income generated by local agricultural production, it is essential to give priority to actions aimed at supporting sound development of local farming practices and to ensure their reach at the local, regional and international levels.

ON THE GROUND

In Burkina Faso, Uniterra has chosen economic development as a strategic focus of involvement.

To improve the situation, Uniterra’s partners are working to implement cooperation projects in areas such as shea butter and rice with the aim of raising production and enhancing the diversification, quality and commercialization of farm products.

The action priorities of Uniterra’s partners are to increase the income of people in rural communities (especially women), to solidify the administrative structure and sound governance of partner organizations, and to promote better systems that help conserve and regenerate natural resources.

Uniterra’s previous initiatives have brought many positive changes. These include growth in the sales volumes of various agricultural products, higher annual incomes for women farmers and a notable improvement in the political dialogue concerning consumption and commercialization.

UNITERRA’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS IN BURKINA FASO

CBDF - Coalition Burkinabé pour les Droits de la Femme, a partner in equality between women and men
CIR-B - Comité Interprofessionnel du Riz du Burkina
CPF - Confédération Paysanne du Faso
DOPAIR - Direction de l’organisation des producteurs/trices et de l’appui aux institutions rurales
FIAB - Fédération nationale des Industries de l’Agro-Alimentaire et de transformation du Burkina
UGCPA/BM Union des Groupements pour la commercialisation des Produits Agricole de la Boucle du Mouhoun
UGPPK/Z-S Union des Groupements de Productrices des Produits de Karité de la Sissili et du Ziro
TFK Table Filière Karité