Burkina Faso: programs & priorities

Together with four partners in 14 programs, ChildFund Australia's affiliate organisation in Burkino Faso has helped transform impoverished neighbourhoods in the country.

ChildFund in Burkino Faso is committed to providing children with the education they need to become productive members of the community. Education for children means access to more opportunities, better paying jobs and increased literacy rates in communities. ChildFund in Burkino Faso works with community members to develop solutions to obstacles standing in the way of basic education for children like the lack of classroom facilities, lack of teachers, lack of school supplies, the inability of parents to support their children in school and gender inequality.

ChildFund's nutrition programs are designed to reduce malnutrition and strengthen children's bodies and minds. We focus on prenatal and natal care and medical treatment for children, as well as HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment.

Access to safe water is also at the core of ChildFund in Burkino Faso's work. This includes constructing sanitary latrines, harvesting rain water and creating awareness about sanitation.

Development in progress

In order to create a long-term cycle of self-reliance, families need sustainable ways to generate income. Initiatives like Micro-Enterprise Development (MED) provide lasting solutions to help the "poorest of the poor" learn to provide for themselves and jump-start the economy of their community.
Community members purchase the materials they need to start and grow their income and reinvest back into their small businesses. Over 80 per cent of MED recipients are women.

To be eligible, each MED recipient must join a self-help group to act as each other's guarantors. If one member does not pay, then the others are responsible for repayment. This structure has been shown to greatly limit default of MED loans and presents a highly successful repayment rate of over 90%.