Abidjan, Ivory Coast, August 5, 2024 — In a significant move to bolster youth resilience and skill development in Burkina Faso, the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a $39.2 million loan for a comprehensive project aimed at creating job opportunities and fostering stability among young people, especially women.
The Multisectoral Project to Support Skills Development for Resilience is financed through a combination of $13.2 million from the African Development Fund and $26 million from the Transition Support Facility. This initiative comes at a crucial time as Burkina Faso grapples with socioeconomic challenges exacerbated by a decade-long security crisis.
The project aims to create at least 20,000 jobs and indirectly benefit 175,000 individuals. By providing skill development and employment opportunities, the initiative seeks to offer young people an alternative to violence and reduce the risk of radicalisation.
Key components of the project include:
- Occupational training for 61,830 individuals affected by the security crisis
- Support for 800 youth entrepreneurs
- Equipping and capacity building for 35 vocational training centres
- Financing for 1,200 youth-led projects and 2,000 women-led enterprises
- Construction of 1,000 poultry farms and 1,000 small ruminant pens
Additionally, the project will include modules on human rights and peacebuilding, civic education, and the promotion of climate-resilient technologies.
Daniel Ndoye, the AfDB’s Country Manager in Burkina Faso, highlighted the project’s timely intervention. “The project comes at just the right time, given the challenging social and security context. It will strengthen Burkina Faso’s efforts to reduce youth vulnerability by creating decent jobs and providing access to essential social services,” he said.
The initiative will also enhance access to basic social services and support distance learning at Koudougou University, which hosts the largest number of internally displaced students in the Centre-Ouest region. At least 1,000 students will receive computers to facilitate their education.
The African Development Bank’s commitment to this project underscores its dedication to fostering economic development and social progress across Africa, particularly in regions facing significant challenges.
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For more information on the African Development Bank Group, visit www.AfDB.org.
