GOURCY, Burkina Faso — A critical training session focused on addressing the risks and management of gender-based violence (GBV) was held in Gourcy on January 19 and 20, 2024. The Rural World Association (AMR) organized this capacity-building event for individuals implementing the Community Recovery and Stabilization Project in the Sahel (PCRSS) in the Northern region.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the training was designed to educate participants on the risks of sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, and gender-based violence. The High Commissioner of Zondoma province, Aboubacar Sidiki Nabé, praised the initiative and urged the beneficiaries to utilize the tools provided to disseminate awareness messages on GBV in their communities. Amadou Wangré, the National Coordinator of the AMR, emphasized the training's goal to create community leaders as ambassadors in the fight against gender-based violence. "We are responsible for our problems; we must also be the solutions," Mr. Wangré noted during the session.
The training covered various themes, including the clarification of key concepts, risks, causes, and endogenous mechanisms for managing GBV. In addition to the educational component, participating municipalities were given communication materials like kakemonos and stickers to aid in ongoing community awareness efforts.
The PCRSS, funded by the World Bank and the Burkinabè State and implemented by the Association Monde rural, operates in nine municipalities in the Northern Region - Arbollé, Yako, Gourcy, Ouahigouya, Barga, Namissiguima, Thiou, Titato, and Ouindigui - and five in the Sahel, including Dori, Gorgadji, Arbinda, Djibo, Gorom Gorom, and Sebba. This training forms a crucial part of the project's broader efforts to promote recovery and stabilization in these areas.
Burkina Faso - the Golden Hand factory, under the leadership of CEO Marie Emmanuel Tapsoba, has initiated a significant endeavor in the mining sector.According to Burkina Information Agency, who spoke at the inauguration of the factory's operations on Tuesday, a contractual agreement with the mining company Semafo has been established. This agreement involves processing 392 tonnes of coal-type residues, from which the company expects to extract a substantial amount of gold.
The collaboration with Semafo is a strategic step for Golden Hand, aiming to recover more than 160 kg of gold from these residues. Tapsoba emphasized, "Ultimately, these 392 tons should make it possible to release 5,304 ounces of gold, or approximately 165 kg of gold." This venture not only highlights the potential for recovering valuable resources from mining waste but also sets a precedent for resource efficiency in the industry.
Golden Hand's initiative is not just limited to gold extraction. The company has identified that mine tailings, often considered waste, contain other precious metals with significant value. This revelation presents an opportunity for more comprehensive resource recovery, potentially revolutionizing how mining residues are perceived and utilized.
The project has also garnered governmental support, evident at the commissioning ceremony of the plant's operations. President Ibrahim Traoré was present at the event, where he extended an invitation to neighboring countries. He encouraged them to consider Burkina Faso as a destination for treating their mining residues, signaling a regional approach to resource management and environmental stewardship.
Golden Hand's project, supported by Semafo and endorsed by the government, marks a pivotal moment in the mining industry. It not only showcases innovative approaches to resource recovery but also aligns with broader goals of sustainability and environmental responsibility. Tapsoba’s call to other mining companies to follow Semafo's example underlines a growing trend towards better valorization of mining by-products, a step that could redefine waste management in the mining sector.