Luxembourg's development cooperation in Burkina Faso
In 1996, Burkina Faso was designated as a partner country for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg's bilateral development cooperation. The fact that numerous Luxembourg NGOs were active in this country helped guide this decision. The two countries signed a general cooperation agreement on 27 October 1999, thereby formalising the cooperation between the two governments. A Luxembourg cooperation office was established in Ouagadougou in November 2006; since 2013, its status has been that of an embassy accredited to Burkina Faso and to neighbouring Niger.
Cooperation between Burkina Faso and Luxembourg has been governed by an Indicative Cooperation Programme (PIC) since 2003. The activities performed by Lux-Development, the Luxembourg development cooperation agency, and the United Nations agencies come under the ICP and benefit from its indicative financial envelope. The activities of the non-governmental development organisations (NGDOs) are very diverse and their budget typically falls outside the ICP. Likewise, the amounts disbursed on humanitarian aid are not included in the ICP.
The first ICP (ICP I) covered the period 2003 to 2007, prioritising the social sectors. The second ICP (ICP II), signed in 2007 with an indicative budget of 62.9 million euros, initially covered the period 2008-2012, but because of delays incurred in disbursing funds and recent socio-political changes, ICP II was extended twice, finally ending in December 2016, with its financial budget being increased by 30 million euros. In addition to the two initial focus areas, namely the sustainable management of natural resources, and technical and vocational education and training, ICP II also covered basic education, blood transfusion and information and communication technologies (ICT).
At the present time three of ICP II's projects are still ongoing:
- Programme BKF/018 supporting the sectoral policy 'education and technical and vocational training' (PAPS-EFTP) continues in 2017, including the financing of vocational learning and specialisation courses as part of the 4th call for projects of the Support Fund for Vocational Training and Learning (FAFPA).
- Programme BKF/019 supporting the forestry sector (PASF), scheduled to conclude in December 2017 and as part of which the Environment Intervention Fund will very soon be launching its third call for projects.
- After a protracted waiting and negotiation phase, project BKF/021 supporting the development of information and communication technologies finally commenced in April 2017. It will be carried out in parallel to the implementation of ICP III and should hit its stride in the next few months.
The third ICP for the period 2017-2021 (ICP III) was signed by the two governments on 21 November 2016. The process of identifying ICP III was closely aligned with the new framework of Burkina's development strategy, the National economic and social development plan (PNDES), with its goal of "building a democratic, united and cohesive nation, capable of structurally transforming Burkina Faso's economy, leading to strong, resilient, inclusive growth, creating decent jobs for all and improving social well-being". Presented in Paris at Burkina Faso's partners' conference in December 2016, the PNDES revolves around three strategic axes, namely institutional reform and administrative modernisation, developing human capital and stimulating the sectors that have high economic growth and employment potential.
Aiming at continuity and consolidating previous gains, and with an indicative budget of 60 million euros, ICP III ifocuses mainly on the following sectors:
- the sustainable management of natural resources (GDRN);
- education, teaching and technical and vocational training (EEFTP);
- new information and communication technologies (ICT).
The last partnership committee held in Ouagadougou on 18 February 2007 was an opportunity to clarify the parameters of the Luxembourg cooperation programme's forthcoming activities in Burkina and to lay the foundations for developing the various programmes and projects, a process that will kick off in the late summer.
The NGDO "SOS Faim" received a mandate from the ministry to implement, as part of ICP III, a 5 million euro family farming funding programme in Burkina Faso. Discussions are also currently underway regarding the implementation of one or several multilateral projects financed under ICP III's indicative budget.