OUAGADOUGOU — From June 25 to 28, 2024, the Emergency Territorial Development and Resilience Project (PUDTR) showcased newly constructed educational and health facilities in the Eastern region of Burkina Faso, covering the communes of Tibga, Diabo, and Diapangou, through a press caravan.
According to Burkina Information Agency, a civil engineer and PUDTR infrastructure assistant in the Eastern region, the project has rigorously controlled the construction of various infrastructures to ensure high-quality outcomes for the benefit of local communities. The initiative is part of a broader government effort with financial backing from the World Bank to improve access to essential social services and infrastructure in several regions of Burkina Faso.
In Tibga, the PUDTR has successfully built 24 classrooms, a CEG (secondary school), and standardization latrines, along with improving rural roads. The Bolontou A and B schools, for example, received new classrooms and facilities designed to be accessible to people with reduced mobility. Lankoandé Youmani, the director of Bolontou B school, noted the expansion of the school from three to six classes, significantly increasing the school’s capacity to accommodate more students.
Parents in the region have praised the improvements, with Madi Balima highlighting the reduced distances her children now travel to school and expressing hope for continued support from PUDTR.
However, not all projects proceeded smoothly. At Litiayenli primary school in Diapangou, construction was halted, and the contractor’s agreement terminated due to substandard work, underscoring the challenges of maintaining quality in rapid infrastructure development.
The PUDTR, which is set to run from 2021 to 2025 with a budget of 260.15 billion FCFA, aims to extend its reach to the Boucle du Mouhoun, East, Center-East, and Center-West regions, focusing on enhancing the resilience of communities, including displaced populations, by providing improved access to basic social services.