Ouagadougou – In a significant boost to financial inclusion efforts in Burkina Faso, 54 individuals were officially certified as microfinance experts on Friday, following their successful completion of a specialized training program facilitated by the Support Program for the Mobilization of Savings in the Francophonie (PAMEF). The graduates received their credentials at a ceremony in Ouagadougou, marked by the program’s baptismal name ‘La Renaissance’.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Technical Secretary for the Promotion of Financial Inclusion, the event underscored the critical need for skilled professionals in the microfinance sector to effectively support small and medium-sized enterprises and improve financial services among the local population. The ceremony, which celebrated the 15th graduating class of PAMEF, served as a reminder of the pivotal role that trained human resources play in fostering economic growth and financial accessibility.
The program, lauded for its comprehensive training modules, was recognized by Hien as a cornerstone in continuing the development of professional standards within the inclusive finance landscape of Burkina Faso. Furthermore, Azaratou Sondo/Nignan, General Director of the Burkina Faso Credit Union Network (RCPB) and sponsor of the graduating class, highlighted the ongoing efforts since 2000 towards the professionalization of the sector’s workforce, emphasizing a strategy of continuous education and capacity building.
The graduation also featured insights from the Rector of the African University for Cooperative Development (UADC), Barthélémy Biao, who praised PAMEF’s initiative in reviving the training program after a decade of inactivity. Marcel Do, representing the graduates, expressed gratitude for the quality of education and the significant personal and professional growth it facilitated.
This ceremony not only celebrates the achievements of the new microfinance experts but also reinforces the collective commitment to enhancing the microfinance landscape in Burkina Faso and the broader UEMOA region.
