The project is expected to create at least 20,000 jobs and indirectly benefit 175,000 individuals.
This Multisectoral Project to Support Skills Development for Resilience will be funded through a $13.2 million allocation from the African Development Fund, which serves as the Bank Group’s concessional window, alongside $26 million from the Transition Support Facility, a mechanism established to aid countries facing substantial challenges.
The timing of this initiative is critical, as Burkina Faso continues to confront socioeconomic difficulties arising from a prolonged security crisis lasting over a decade. The project is anticipated to generate a minimum of 20,000 jobs and indirectly benefit approximately 175,000 individuals. Its primary objective is to provide young people with alternatives to violence and to mitigate radicalization by fostering opportunities for skill acquisition and employment.
Key components of the project include vocational training for 61,830 individuals impacted by the security crisis, support for 800 youth entrepreneurs, enhancement and capacity building for 35 vocational training centers, funding for 1,200 youth-led initiatives and 2,000 women-led businesses, as well as the establishment of 1,000 poultry farms and 1,000 small ruminant pens. Additionally, the project will incorporate models focused on human rights and peacebuilding, civic education, and the promotion and implementation of climate-resilient technologies, including nature-based solutions.
Daniel Ndoye, the Bank’s Country Manager in Burkina Faso, stressed the significance of the project. He highlighted that the project is timely, especially considering the challenging social and security environment in the country. Ndoye pointed out that the project aims to address the high number of internally displaced persons and young individuals facing unemployment or under-employment, making them vulnerable to terrorist activities. Additionally, he mentioned that the project will be rolled out in seven regions to enhance Burkina Faso's efforts in reducing youth vulnerability through job creation and access to essential social services.
Furthermore, the project will enhance access to basic social services and support distance-learning at Koudougou University in the Centre-Ouest region, which currently hosts the largest population of internally displaced students. Specifically, over 1,000 of these students will be provided with computers to facilitate their learning process.