OUAGADOUGOU — Burkina Faso’s National Volunteer Program and the National Fund for Non-Formal Education are setting the stage for a partnership aimed at improving literacy and community health through volunteer involvement. Key officials from both entities convened on Monday to discuss potential collaboration opportunities.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the meeting between Djourmité Nestor Noufé, the Director General of GIP-PNVB, and Yombo Paul Diabouba, his counterpart from the National Fund for Non-Formal Education (FONAENF), was productive, uncovering several common goals and structural similarities that could be leveraged for mutual benefit. Plans are now in motion to draft an agreement involving both organizations along with the General Directorate of Non-Formal Education (DGENF) and the Ministry of Health.
The proposed agreement is expected to facilitate the mobilization of volunteers to train in literacy programs and manage income-generating activities, specifically targeting community-based health workers. Additionally, a further partnership will focus on recruiting national volunteers to serve in literacy centers, reinforcing the government’s commitment to educational development as evidenced by FONAENF’s successful literacy training for over 61,000 individuals last year.
To finalize these agreements, a core group from both organizations has been formed to draft the necessary documents. The initiative concluded on a positive note with proposals to create an exchange platform to ensure ongoing cooperation, reflecting the officials’ strong belief in the potential of this partnership to significantly benefit community education and health initiatives in Burkina Faso.