OCTOBER 2001

Update on the African Woman Food Farmer Initiative in Burkina Faso

Dr. Fitigu Tadesse, Africa Regional Director

Report on AWFFI-Burkina activities

In Burkina Faso, the AWFFI has fast expanded its work to many regions of Burkina Faso, including the seven epicenters of THP-Burkina. Since its inception in 1999, AWFFI has been led by Mrs. Bernadette Ouattara; and during the third quarter 2001, has distributed the amount of CFA 3,145,000 (approx. US$4,500) to 119 women farmers. Since its inception, the program has distributed the total amount of CFA 54, 288,000 (approx. US$78,000) to 2,582 women.

In all of its partnering villages, AWFFI-Burkina has put local structures in place by helping to set up loan committees composed entirely of women. The major role and responsibility of the Loan Committee is to identify women food farmers who would benefit from access to credit and visiting the sites of AWFFI borrowers to monitor the income generating activities.

One strength of AWFFI-Burkina is its close collaboration with the THP-Burkina Faso, which has made it possible to conduct periodic VCA workshops, training in literacy, accounting and management to women of villages where AWFFI is active. Some 124 women are now literate and 350 women have received training in health and hygiene. In terms of income, some women members of AWFFI have generated CFA 223,000 (approx. US$3,000) of personal income in one year, of out of which half has been deposited in their saving accounts.

The access to credit and training in literacy and other areas provided by THP has made women farmers in Burkina very proud of themselves and gives them a sense of playing an important economic role in the development efforts of their country.