Social enterprises in Burkina Faso

The objective of the project is to contribute to improving the living conditions of the rural population in Burkina Faso by reducing economic, social and skills barriers, promoting innovative, inclusive and sustainable local development initiatives in line with SDGs 8-1- 5.

Il Municipality of Milan is a historic partner of Mani Tese in global citizenship education activities in Italy and interventions abroad; he was also a financier of Mani Tese projects and collaborated in various actions, not least those on issues relating to food and agricultural supply chains.
Based on the experience of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP), the Municipality of Milan will develop, in collaboration with the Municipality of Ouagadougou, good practices of sustainable city-countryside food systems and an international event between African cities Western signatories of the pact.

In total, the direct beneficiaries will be 6.487 people: 300 young people and women, 1.000 community members, 40 small and medium-sized incubated businesses, 50 members of diaspora communities, 50 agro-ecological producers, 1.500 women, 180 migrants in Italy, 2.000 members of the diaspora community, 400 producers, 900 young people (50% of whom are girls), 60 teachers, a social enterprise (7 members), an international event (50 participants).

Indirect beneficiaries: the population of the provinces Boulgou (536.367 inhabitants), Boulkiemdé (500.658 inhabitants), of the city of Ouagadougou (1.475.223 inhabitants) and 500 migrants in Italy.

The main partners are:

In Italy:

  • Mani Tese (leader),
  • ACRA Foundation,
  • Chico Mendes Onlus Scrl,
  • Center for International Political Studies (CeSPI),
  • Ital Watinoma,
  • The municipality of Milan.

In Burkina Faso:

  • Fédération Nationale des Femmes Rurales du Burkina (FENAFERB),
  • Fédération nationale des industries de l'agro-alimentaire et de transformation du Burkina (FIAB),
  • Association Watinoma,
  • Municipality of Ouagadougou.

The expected duration is 36 months, from 1 May 2018 to 30 April 2021.

  • Contribute to the development of productive, entrepreneurial and innovative activities with the involvement of migrants, encouraging the growth of businesses in rural and urban areas, in the Central Eastern, Central Western and Central regions, to reduce social and economic marginalization and enhance local production.

  • Literacy and accounting management course, information campaigns on female entrepreneurship and awareness meeting with successful Burkinabe entrepreneurs
  • Support for credit and entrepreneurship through "business incubator" methods for 40 SMEs; sub-granting to support 20 SMEs, divided into categories (women, young people, communities of origin of migrants, thematic on agro-ecology)
  • Consolidation of the institutional role of the Fédération Nationale des Femmes Rurales du Burkina in the 3 regions
  • Investigations on the relationships between migrant associations and local associations in Burkina Faso and on return/investment projects
  • Meetings in Italy to raise awareness and involve the diaspora to support activities in Burkina Faso and meetings on financial education/savings-remittances and agro-ecology; meetings with communities in Burkina on savings-remittances and migration issues
  • Development of prototypes to enhance transformation and marketing processes, development of production and supply chain protocols aimed at improving/enhancing quality (technical assistance and innovative/technological applications)
  • Training of 900 young people to start with NTIC, with the use of recovery IT material and training of 60 teachers
  • Launch of a line of natural, ethical and quality products, 100% Burkinabé, through a social enterprise, opening distribution channels (supermarkets and points of sale) and creating a package of services for producers
  • Marketing and awareness campaign on the consumption of local, healthy and nutritious products with the participation of institutions
  • Identification of good practices of sustainable city-countryside food systems (public system of purchasing, distribution, markets), exchange of experiences in an international event between cities signatory to the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, annual Journées agro-alimentaires event 

  1. At least 20 small and medium-sized enterprises in rural areas made up mainly of women and young people are structured and functioning. The aim is to strengthen the protagonism and employment opportunities of the weakest categories and promote the diversification of the rural economy
  2. The role of promoter and development actor in the country of origin of the Burkinabé diaspora in Italy is strengthened. We want to encourage businesses in their places of origin through the valorisation of relational and economic skills and resources
  3. Small and medium-sized businesses and young people have acquired and implemented skills relating to the use of innovative and technological solutions. We want to improve the NTIC skills of young people and their application to business activity
  4. The marketing of an ethical line of Burkinabé products on the Ouagadougou market is implemented through a social enterprise and by promoting sustainable urban food system practices. The aim is to facilitate access to the market for small producers.

Updated: 31/12/2020