ZORGHO – A crucial working meeting was convened on May 8, 2024, at the Reading and Cultural Activities Promotion Center of Zorgho, focused on the scaling of Burkina Faso’s Single Social Register (RSU). The meeting, chaired by the High Commissioner of Ganzourgou Province, Aminata Sorgho/Gouba, brought together local authorities, civil society organizations, and key resource persons to discuss the national rollout of the RSU.
According to Burkina Information Agency, head of the operations department of the RSU Technical Secretariat, the RSU is designed as a centralized information system to compile demographic and socio-economic data on poor and vulnerable households. This system aids in the identification and selection of beneficiaries for social programs. The objectives of the RSU include generating unique identification codes for each registered individual and regularly updating beneficiary lists. This initiative, which began in 2021, originates from the National Social Protection Policy established in 2012, aimed at enhancing the living conditions of the most vulnerable groups in Burkina Faso.
The meeting highlighted the RSU’s role in creating a unified and reliable database to streamline investment, reduce operational costs, and coordinate social programs more effectively. Initially piloted in the Center-East and Center-West regions in 2023, the RSU’s tools and procedures were refined ahead of its broader application. The current phase involves expanding the RSU to 11 provinces across seven regions, including Ganzourgou, marking a significant step in the system’s national implementation over the next three years.
Participants at the meeting expressed their support for the RSU’s objectives and engaged actively with the presented information, committing to disseminate what they learned to the broader community. The High Commissioner, Aminata Sorgho/Gouba, praised the dedication of those present and encouraged them to champion the RSU within their locales, emphasizing the initiative’s critical role in combating poverty.