Pô, A delegation from the European Union (EU), led by Diego Escalona, Head of EU Cooperation in Burkina Faso, visited several sites in the Pô-Nazinon-Sissili (PONASI) ecological complex on Thursday, October 19, 2023. The delegation’s purpose was to assess the ongoing projects—PONASI 2 and Resilient Communities—that are financially supported by the EU.
According to News Releases by Burkina Information News Agency, the EU’s financial commitment to these projects totals 4,415,000 euros, approximately 3 billion CFA francs. The delegation visited project sites managed by a consortium of NGOs, including the Guardian Angels of Nature (AGN), focusing on PONASI’s protected areas comprising the Centre-South, Centre-East, and Centre-West regions.
Among the sites visited was a cassava processing factory under construction in the village of Tiakané, Nahouri province. Set to commence operations in December 2023, the factory is expected to create 80 direct jobs and initially produce 2 tons of attiéké or 4 tons of cassava daily. Eventually, production is planned to ramp up to 10 tons of attiéké or 20 tons of cassava per day, as stated by Benjamin Bassono, the executive director of AGN.
Bassono elaborated that the factory aims to provide an alternative income source to aid partners, secure protected areas, generate both direct and indirect employment, bolster local and national cassava producers’ income, and supply consumers with quality cassava-derived products.
The EU delegation also met various stakeholders, including administrative authorities, defense and security force representatives, and beneficiaries, to discuss the ongoing projects. Regarding the PONASI 2 project, Bassono noted that it builds upon the successes of PONASI 1, including reducing vulnerability, improving natural capital, and increasing community resilience. He reported a physical achievement rate of 47% and a budget consumption rate of 39% for the first semester of the PONASI 2 project.
The Resilient Communities project, according to Bassono, focuses on activities that strengthen social cohesion, generate income, and establish social safety nets.
Diego Escalona expressed satisfaction with the projects’ management, stating that despite challenges in the PONASI area, important activities are being undertaken to protect the environment and support local communities. He affirmed the EU’s commitment to continue backing these projects and future initiatives in the region.
Both PONASI 2 and Resilient Communities were officially launched in April 2023, with a timeline of 24 and 35 months respectively. Including the earlier PONASI 1 project, the EU’s total investment in securing the PONASI complex and fortifying local communities is around 8 million euros, or approximately 5.3 billion CFA francs.