Events

In 2018, the government of Burkina Faso, along with the help of SWITCH Africa Green, began the process of developing a National Action Plan on Integrated Waste Management. This was done as part of the Country Implementation Plan and in line with the vision of transitioning to circular economy. The plan aims to, amongst other things, propose solutions for systemic change that generates new business opportunities and economic, environmental and social benefits for its citizen.

One of the key recommendations that emerged from Burkina Faso’s 2018 National Policy Dialogue was the need to develop a national strategy and action plan that promotes sustainable tourism. In that context, Burkina Faso’s Ministry of the Environment, Green Economy and Climate Change, in collaboration with other ministries, committed to transforming the tourism sector so that it better integrates the three components of sustainable development – the environment, economy, and community. 

The EU-funded SWITCH Africa Green Programme supports African countries in their transition to inclusive green economy and in promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) practises and patterns. UN Environment, in collaboration with UNDP and UNOPS, have been implementing phase I of the programme since 2014 in six countries across Africa: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, and Uganda.

The Second Switch Africa Green Regional Networking Forum was held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on 3-4 October 2018 and brought together SWITCH Africa Green partners and stakeholders to share lessons and experiences; build synergy and complementarity; and explore opportunities for scaling up and replicating successful interventions in the programme. The theme of the forum was “Innovative Solutions for Accelerating Africa’s Transition towards Inclusive Green Economy through Sustainable Consumption and Production practices”.

The Burkina Faso SWITCH Africa green networking forum was held on June 4, 2018, at the Ramada Hotel in Ouagadougou. The Honorable Batio Nestor Bassiere, Minister of Environment, Green Economy and Climate Change; Mr Jérôme Compaoré, representative of the Prime minister of Burkina Faso; Jean Lamy Charge d’Affaires of the European Union in Burkina Faso and Dr. Patrick Mwesigye Regional programme coordinator, UN Environment officiated the meeting.

First day of the Association Jeunesse Solidaire pour le Développement Véritable regional forum, 20 October 2016. Elimination of uncontrolled dump site at the Ouahigouya municipality. Photo | SWITCH Africa Green 

The grant awards ceremony was held on 3 March 2016 at the Pacific Hotel in Ouagadougou.

The SWITCH Africa Green National Stakeholder Workshop, held on 2 March 2016 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, was officially opened by Mr. Rasmane Ouedraogo, Director of the Department of Environmental Policies, Coordinator of the Poverty-Environment Initiative, Permanent Secretary to the National Council on Environment and Sustainable Development (CONEDD) and the SWITCH Africa Green national focal point for Burkina Faso.

In July 2015, over $3.4 million in SWITCH Africa Green grants was awarded for projects in Kenya, Ghana and Uganda. In November 2015, additional awards of over $3 million were granted for 16 projects in Burkina Faso, Mauritius, and South Africa, as well as $4.5 million for 3 multi-country projects covering all six pilot countries. Table 1 lists the grants awarded in Burkina Faso, Mauritius and South Africa and the multi-country grants, and table 2 lists the grants for Kenya, Ghana and Uganda.