Context:
Burkina Faso is one of the world’s poorest countries, with a large informal sector. Women, especially those who are internally displaced, face social and economic exclusion and work in poor conditions. Women-led microenterprises and cooperatives are very rarely competitive. Moreover, many women have an inadequate income or no income at all. If they do earn their own income, they are not always able to determine how it is used. At the same time, women have limited access to resources such as land, education and financial services, including loans.
Objective:
Women in two regions of Burkina Faso have increased their income, gained new professional qualifications, and can participate in determining how household income is used.
Approach:
The project combines economic skills development and entrepreneurial advisory services for women with measures to promote shared household decision-making, rooted in partnership. It operates in three key fields of action:
It professionalises women-led microenterprises, cooperatives and people working on their own account, boosting their competitiveness.
It supports women in entering work, especially in the water and wastewater sector, and in occupations in the skilled crafts sector and areas related to services.
It raises awareness among men and women with regard to financial planning and partnership-based approaches to household decision-making. It also trains couples in budget planning, spending management and savings options, enabling them to take decisions together and share household responsibilities.