BURKINA FASO

COUNTRY CONTEXT

  • 24% of girls and 22% of boys drop out of primary school (UNICEF, 2019)
  • 39% of children are forced to work (UNICEF, 2012)
  • 72% of children with disabilities are not in the education system (UNICEF, 2016)
  • 46% of girls and 48% of boys drop out of secondary school (UNICEF, 2019)

AREA OF INTERVENTION

KEY FIGURES

1995

we set up in the country

4

projects in 2023

13

partners

41 800

beneficiaries in 2023

OUR ACTIONS IN THE FIELD

Background information

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world and has some of the least optimistic social indicators in Africa. Nearly 40% of Burkina Faso’s population lives below the poverty line according to the World Bank, and the majority still suffer from a lack of sufficient quantity and quality of food, water, basic health care and access to education.

56% of Burkina Faso’s population is under 18, according to UNICEF. This rapid population growth hampers the impact of initiatives (especially in the education and health sectors) to reduce poverty and promote human development.

In Burkina Faso, only 6.2% of children benefit from pre-school education, while the African average is 17%. In the country, pre-schools for children face several challenges, including the need to formalise and align pedagogical practices and methods, especially concerning language and reading activities. In addition, pre-school education centres are mainly concentrated in urban areas.

The inclusion of children with disabilities remains a very marginal concern despite the great need. In Burkina Faso, 72% of children with disabilities are not in the education system. Furthermore, only 20% of children with eye conditions are screened. If not diagnosed in time, a great majority of these conditions can develop into disabling visual diseases.

Intervention objectives

Currently, Asmae provides financial and skilled support to our partners in 4 projects in Ouagadougou. We have multiple objectives in the areas of early childhood protection and education, as well as support through adolescence:

  • Offer children a stable environment in order to create the necessary conditions for their development, learning and socialisation. Asmae supports its partners to facilitate access to essential learning for children;
  • Care for young children with visual impairments through support for the child and their family;
  • Fight for change in the way disability is viewed through awareness raising and carrying out advocacy actions in local communities;
  • Create a school and out-of-school environment at post-primary and secondary level that is conducive to quality learning, development and protection of adolescent girls and boys.

OUR PROJECTS

Cap Jeunesse – Youth acting for change (Pour une jeunesse actrice du changement)

Project start date: January 2021

Project duration: 3 years

Beneficiaries: adolescent girls and boys, their families, and teachers.

Partners: 

  • Centre for Studies and Advice in Social Work (Centre d’Etudes et d’Appui conseil en Travail Social, CEATS);
  • National Committee for the Prevention of Violence in Schools (Comité National de Prévention des Violences à l’Ecole, CNPVE).

The project:

The project aims to create an in-school and out-of-school environment at the post-primary and secondary levels that is conducive to quality learning, development and protection of adolescent girls and boys. This project will be implemented mainly by the adolescents themselves, as well as by the actors who are in contact with them: families, teaching staff and professional social workers. Gender issues are taken into account, as well including the most vulnerable, such as young girls and boys who are refugees, disabled or living on the streets.

Financial partners: The project is 60% funded by the French Development Agency. It is also financially supported by companies and foundations that are partners of Asmae’s work, as well as the generosity of our donors.

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Growing Up Together 2 (Grandir Ensemble phase 2)

Project start date: September 2019

Project duration: 2 years

Beneficiaries: visually impaired children aged 3 to 6

Partners: 

  • National Union of Burkinabe Associations for the Promotion of the Blind and Visually Impaired (Union Nationale des Associations Burkinabés pour la Promotion des Aveugles et Malvoyants, UNABPAM);
  • National Centre for the Fight against Blindness (Centre National de Lutte contre la Cécité, CNLC).

The project: 

The project works towards the scholastic and social integration of visually impaired children through support in health, education and protection.

The activities consist of detecting and diagnosing as many visually impaired children as possible and providing them with appropriate health services and quality inclusive education by referring them to specialised classes.

Financial partners: DCI, Monaco Cooperation (Principality of Monaco), Pro Victimis Foundation (Switzerland) and L’Occitane Foundation (France).

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For a fulfilling early childhood

Project start date: August 2021

Project duration: 3 years

Beneficiaries: pre-school and primary school children

Partners: 

  • ICCV, Community Initiative to Change Lives;
  • 3 community-based organisations.

The project:

This is stage 3 of the project. It aims to strengthen access to and quality of early childhood development services in Burkina Faso through complementary actions between institutional and community actors.

It does this by sharing a pedagogical tool, the “Yam Wekre” picture book developed during the first stages of the project, to improve children’s reading and language skills. It also aims to promote access to early childhood development activities and protection services through community-based early intervention. Children, families and communities have access to exclusive reading and learning opportunities through the activities of Community Based Organisations (CBOs). Various partner libraries are also supported in setting up activities, including the creation of motorbike libraries.

Financial partners: AFD*, DCI and Société Générale Foundation

*Currently being renewed, to be reviewed by the award committee in the second half of 2021

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PEACE – Displaced People Action: Boucle du Mouhoun and The Northern Region

Project start date: January 2022

Project duration: 31 months

Beneficiaries: Children aged 0 to 6 and their families, pre-school team leaders and teachers, community centre instructors

Partners: 

  • Association des jeunes pour le bien-être familial (AJBF)
  • Association Coalition des Initiatives Communautaires pour le Développement (ACICD)
  • Terre des Hommes; Educo; Intersos.

The Project:

The project, rolled out in the Boucle du Mouhoun and the northern region, seeks to strengthen the access to and the quality of educational and protection activities carried out for children under 6 years of age. Its main objective is to make displaced communities aware of safeguarding issues and thereby identify vulnerable and at-risk children alike. It also seeks to strengthen and standardise the quality of pre-school education using visual aids and via an active and participative approach to teaching.

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