The Northern Regional Delegation organized in partnership with UNDP, the closing ceremony of the activities of the 1st cohort of the incubation project of 65 young people and women from the region. It was Tuesday, October 10, 2023 in Ouahigouya under the presidency of Raymond David Valentin Ouédraogo President of the Special Regional Delegation of the North.
The Northern incubation center was born from the desire of the Northern Regional Council to respond to the concerns of young people and women in the region in terms of employment and socio-economic integration.
The establishment of the business incubator is therefore a framework for maturation and experimentation of projects for the benefit of young people and women, including internally displaced people, as well as the strengthening of their technical capacities is part of this mission.
In its logic of supporting sustainable human development in communities, UNDP through its project (COLIBRIS) made its contribution to the employability of 65 young
people and women in the form of subsidies for their projects and kits to facilitate their installation in their own micro enterprises.
The young people and women incubated from 13 municipalities in the region (Banh, Ouindigui, Sollé, Kaïn, Titao, Thiou, Barga, Zogoré, Koumbri, Namissiguima Ouahigouya, Tangaye, Boussou) were trained in agricultural production professions for 12 months, building and public works (BTP), metal carpentry, solar energy, agri-food processing and non-wood forest products.
The closing ceremony of the incubation activities and the delivery of kits and working capital to the 65 incubates was attended by the governor of the region, the high commissioners, the representative of the deputy resident representative of the UNDP, the all the incubates and partners of the Special Regional Delegation.
Michel Alban Ouédraogo, coordinator of the incubation center of the Northern region, took stock of the activities of the incubates carried out from October 2022 to September 2023, which he consi
dered positive, in view of the achievements and results.
Mr. Ouédraogo took the opportunity to announce that the results obtained were possible thanks to the availability of Ms. Rachidatou Manja from the UNDP integrated office in the North and her team, to the courage and enthusiasm of the incubates.
The center coordinator wanted to see the partnership with the UNDP continues in order to propel new structuring projects for the benefit of the youth of the North.
The incubated through the voice of their representative, Kassoum Sawadogo, thanked all those who facilitated the realization of their projects.
He hoped that municipal officials could integrate them into the public procurement circuit at the local level.
Speaking on behalf of the deputy resident representative of UNDP, Awa Sawadogo, welcomed the success of the incubation project which was financially supported by her institution to the tune of 43 million 690 thousand 782 FCFA including 16 million 250 thousand FCFA in working capital and 27 million
440 thousand 782 FCFA in equipment kits.
She hoped that the kits and working capital made available to incubates would symbolize the start of a successful entrepreneurial life.
The President of the Special Regional Delegation, Raymond David Valentin Ouédraogo, indicated that this activity is in line with the vision of the Transitional Government in connection with sustainable human development.
The authority did not fail to warn the incubates not to see the equipment made available to them in the local markets.
At the end of the ceremony, the incubates made commitments before receiving their training certificates, business plans, working capital checks and installation kits.
Source: Burkina Information Agency