TENKODOGO — From August 5 to 8, 2024, the Pugsada Support and Awareness Association (ADEP) is conducting training sessions in Tenkodogo to educate about a hundred vulnerable individuals on the risks of gender-based violence (GBV) and the available reporting mechanisms.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the project manager at the NGO Pugsada, the training is aimed at teaching participants how to address and raise awareness about GBV within their communities. The sessions, each hosting 25 participants, will cover topics such as the types of GBV, its causes and consequences, and the relevant national and international legal frameworks. The training will also provide information on appropriate support services for GBV survivors.

Funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation and Light for the World, the sessions are part of the ‘Inclusive measures for people affected by the crisis in targeted areas in Burkina Faso (Impact-BF)’ project. This initiative seeks to offer humanitarian support to those impacted by the ongoing security crisis, particularly in regions with a high influx of internally displaced persons.

Ms. Tiendrébéogo further emphasized the broader impact of the training, noting that if each participant can educate at least ten others, it could significantly reduce the incidence of GBV in Tenkodogo. The municipality’s 2nd vice-president, Issa Kéré, also expressed his support for the initiative, highlighting its potential to mitigate GBV risks in the Central-East region.

This capacity-building effort extends across four project intervention zones: Tenkodogo, Bittou, Koupéla, and Pouytenga, addressing a critical need in areas with limited presence of humanitarian organizations.