Ouagadougou – Editions Sidwaya, a public press company in Burkina Faso, has signed a partnership agreement to enhance the visibility of the Caisses Populaire du Burkina, the national network of credit unions. The agreement was formalized on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, by Assetou Badoh/Guiré, General Director of Editions Sidwaya, and Zaratou Sondo/Nignan, General Director of the Caisses Populaire du Burkina.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the partnership will leverage Sidwaya’s extensive media reach, including regional service heads and correspondents from the Burkina Information Agency, to prioritize and amplify the activities of the credit unions over the next twelve months. “With a cumulative audience of more than 5 million people reached per month, our channels constitute a reference for the Burkinabè of the interior and for the displaced,” stated Badoh.
Sondo/Nignan highlighted that as of December 2023, the Caisses Populaire network operated 212 points of sale throughout Burkina Faso. She expressed that the collaboration with Editions Sidwaya is crucial for educating and informing members about the credit unions’ missions and products. Sondo also emphasized the distinction between their cooperative model and traditional banks. “The Caisse Populaire is a credit savings cooperative belonging to all Burkinabè people. We are not a bank,” she clarified.
This partnership aligns with the dual economic and social mission of the Caisses Populaire, aiming to clarify the unique role and services of credit unions compared to banks. The Burkina Faso credit union network, established in 1972, stands as the oldest savings and credit cooperative network in the country and one of the oldest in Africa.