Burkina Faso

Green business development is a process that requires new skills and, in some cases, significant financial investments – although green technology has become more affordable over the past decades, it still remains relatively expensive. Green technology also requires specific skills. In the context of Burkina Faso, very few companies appear to be able and willing to acquire such technologies. Moreover, the State’s priorities and its lack of financial resources and skills restrict its involvement in the process. The country’s difficulties with the implementation of its programme for economic growth in the agricultural sector (PCESA) highlight this issue.

To address the challenges in green business development in Burkina Faso, SWITCH Africa Green interventions are focused on:

  • Capacity-building (initial training, in-service training) on sustainable consumption and production and green business development;
  • Support for access to financial and material resources, including clear identification of innovative financing mechanisms for green business development and reform of financial subsidies;
  • Support for appropriate green technologies, including through incentives for innovation and/or the import of appropriate technologies and dissemination of findings to allow replication.

More broadly, the micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) involved in SWITCH Africa Green projects benefit from technical advice on eco-innovation and on aspects of sustainable consumption and production, such as resource efficiency, integrated waste management, energy efficiency and industrial symbiosis, as well as from general business advice on management, including financial management.

Projects

Completed Agriculture
Promoting eco-entrepreneurship in Africa

The greatest challenges facing eco-enterprises are a lack of access to knowledge, networks, financing and high-quality business development services and poor enabling conditions, including a shortage of skilled people at the community level.

Completed Integrated Waste Management
Transformation des déchets ménagers en engrais agricole (Transformation of household wastes into fertilizer)

In urban areas, hygiene and sanitation are an ongoing struggle because of increasing urbanization and the resulting growth in household waste. Aside from the unbearable odour of rotting garbage that affects the daily life of residents, such waste attracts insects, rodents and reptiles capable of transmitting disease.

Completed Integrated Waste Management
Valorisation des déchets de la filière anacarde comme une source d’énergie renouvelable pour les PMEs au Burkina Faso (Cashew as a source of renewable energy for SMEs in Burkina Faso)

Cashew industry waste (currently about 2,000 tons/year, with the potential to increase to 15,000 tons/year) is a sustainable alternative to wood as a fuel for domestic and industrial needs.

Completed Integrated Waste Management
NEERE project: Groupe de Recherche et d’Analyse Appliqués pour le Développement (GRAAD) (applied research and analysis group for development)

“NEERE” in the local language means “pretty” or “clean”. As the project’s name suggests, its general objective is to contribute to the emergence of clean, sustainable cities through the use of integrated waste management strategies. By the end of the project, all households should be educated in responsible waste management and should be subscribed to the newly created waste management system.

Completed Manufacturing
Enhancing the resource productivity and environmental performance of MSMEs in 6 African countries through the concept of industrial symbiosis

The problem of the collection, management and disposal of waste continues to feature prominently in major towns and cities across African countries. This has led to contamination of water bodies and to the spread of waterborne diseases and other health hazards.

Completed Manufacturing
Enabling SMEs from Burkina Faso to launch solar energy production

In Burkina Faso, solar energy is a sustainable alternative to electricity in terms of availability, cost and carbon emissions. Solar energy systems have not been widely adopted in the country due to barriers such as limited awareness, a high initial investment and limited access to finance.

SWITCH-Africa Green Programme is implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme with the financial support of the European Union. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of the project partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

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