In Burkina Faso, CESO works with partners in number of sectors, including: microfinance, tourism and hospitality, the environment, agriculture and food processing, and gender equality.
Microfinance
In Burkina Faso, many men and women are working together to create and sustain microfinance institutions, a banking system for those excluded from traditional forms of banking because they are economically impoverished. These institutions let people obtain loans to start up a business or create a way to save money. CESO, the Professional Association of Microfinance Institutions (APIM, in French) and the unit implementing the National Microfinance Strategy (UTE / PSNMF, in French) assist these groups with management, planning, developing web-based tools, creating spreadsheets to keep track of loans, etc. Doing so enhances public services and ensures these microfinance services can be sustained; services which in 2003 were estimated to be used by over 1.3 million people, or approximately 26% of the total workforce.
Tourism and Hospitality
Hotels and restaurants are an important part of the Burkinabe economy as they provide long-term employment and considerable income. CESO and the Employers’ Association of Hotels and Restaurants of Burkina (APHRB, in French) improve service quality of various businesses to keep up with tourist demand. Services focus on business management, budgeting, marketing, room services, maintenance, food safety, etc.
Environment
CESO and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as the
Nature and Life Foundation, an environmental agency, together improve the NGOs’ management system, and its reach into the community. In collaboration with CESO, the Nature and Life Foundation will help CESO partners in Burkina Faso integrate environmentally-friendly practices into their daily operations.
Agriculture and Food Processing
According to The World Factbook, agriculture employs 90% of labour force in Burkina Faso, making it a crucial area in which to address any issues. CESO, the Professional Association of Irrigation Professionals and Related Activities (APIPAC, in French) and the
National Federation of Agribusiness Industries and Transformation of Burkina (FIAB, in French) together enhance the processing and commercialization of agricultural goods, and increase sales.
Gender Equality
In Burkina Faso the government created new laws to improve women’s rights, however, in many cases, a large gap exists between policy and reality. CESO works with the
Center for Research and Intervention in Gender (CRIGED, in French), a partner that focuses on gender equality issues, to strengthen the organization’s effort to help Burkinabe women benefit from their rights. CRIGED is partnering with CESO to integrate gender issues with all CESO partners in the country.