Burkina Faso: 1,000 looms for internally displaced women in ten regions

The Minister for Solidarity, Humanitarian Action, National Reconciliation, Gender and the Family, Nandy Somé/Diallo, has launched the "1000 looms for internally displaced women in regions with a high concentration of IDPs in Burkina Faso" project. The event took place on Tuesday September 26, 2023 in Ouahigouya, in the North region of Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso has been plagued by terrorism for several years now. This difficult security situation has led to large-scale displacement of people in many parts of the country. These internally displaced persons often rely on the solidarity of host populations and the government.

Convinced of the need to make these internally displaced people, particularly women, more resilient, the Ministry of National Solidarity and Humanitarian Action initiated theaction humanitaire initiated the "1000 looms for internally displaced women in regions with a high concentration of IDPs in Burkina Faso" project.

With an overall cost of 721,740,000 FCFA, this project is being implemented with financial support from the Japanese Cooperation Agency to the tune of 646,749,240 FCFA. It aims to equip and strengthen the technical capacities of internally displaced women and girls in loincloth weaving, in the maintenance of weaving technologies, and to provide them with working capital for their installation. Through this project, the Ministry of Solidarity and Humanitarian Action aims to contribute to the economic empowerment of internally displaced women and girls in ten regions with a high concentration of displaced people.These are the Sahel, Centre-Nord, Nord, Est, Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-Est, Plateau Central, Sud-Ouest, Hauts Bassins and Centre.

According to the Minister, women and girls alone make up more than 29℅ of the country's internally displaced persons. She went on to point out that the project is aimed not only at internally displaced women and girls, but also at vulnerable host populations who welcome the displaced into their homes.

A project welcomed by its beneficiaries

Mariam Mandé, speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the Ministry for this project, which will enable them to be financially autonomous, to give up begging and to leave the vulnerable situation in which they find themselves.

"We women are very happy about this project. We used to beg, but from now on, it's over. We thank the Ministry of Solidarity for this project, which will enable us to take care of ourselves and our families", declared the representative of the beneficiaries.

Botetessan Bonou, President of the Special Delegation of the Ouahigouya commune, also expressed his gratitude to the country's highest authorities, who have enabled this project to see the light of day, to the great delight of the internally displaced and host populations. He pointed out that by March 31, 2023, according to SP/CONASUR statistics, there were 256,060 IDPs in the North region, and 147,134 in the Ouahigouya commune alone. This project is therefore of particular interest to the northern region.

After the official launch of the project, the Minister had the opportunity to visit the women's training site at the Maison de la Femme in Ouahigouya. As in the other regions, they will be trained in dyeing, weaving, digital commerce and microfinance. At the end of the training, they will be organized into simplified cooperatives for networking, and will receive weaving equipment, working capital and subsidies to take part in national, regional and international fairs.

Mrs. Nandy Somé/Diallo reminded the beneficiaries that despite the scarcity of resources due to the difficult situation the country is experiencing, the government was keen to finance this project to facilitate the economic recovery of women and girls. She therefore urged the women to be assiduous in their training and to make good use of the equipment they will be given at the end of their training.

The Minister also visited the compost production site of the Association de développement durable des femmes déplacées internes, réfugiées et hôtes du Yatenga. This profitable activity enables the association's hundred or so women members to look after themselves, but it is not without its difficulties. They shared their grievances with the minister, who promised to examine them and find solutions.

Source: lefaso.net/