The ECED-Mouhoum Energy Project to Relieve the Populations in Burkina

The ECED-Mouhoun project is an initiative of Burkina Faso with the support of Canadian cooperation. This project is in line with the national energy strategy and policy documents of the country. Indeed, according to the initiators, the ministry in charge of energy is committed to improving the rate of access of populations to modern energy services. And the contribution of this project has undoubtedly allowed, according to them, the increase in the number of electrified localities and the number of installations of isolated solar systems in basic social services.

This project has also allowed the strengthening of the partnership for the development of energy solutions between members of the private sector, civil society, and decentralized communities. It aims to accelerate sustainable economic growth in Burkina Faso through targeted interventions articulated around operational components such as improving access to energy, local economic development and governance, and capacity building.

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The Energy and Sustainable Economic Growth in the Boucle du Mouhoun project was implemented by Cowater International for a five-year period (2017-2023) in the Boucle du Mouhoun region

The project was financed by Cowater to the tune of $13.44 million (CA$18.2 million) in collaboration with the Ministry of Global Affairs of Canada (AMC), the Burkinabe Agency for Rural Electrification (ABER) and Windiga Energy.

For the representative of the Minister in charge of energy, Moïse Ouédraogo, this project was very innovative in taking into account the development of the market for certified solar lamps, the problem of the electrified activity zone, the gender analysis within the ministry and its attached agencies, etc.

“Not only did the project address institutional issues related to gender mainstreaming in the energy sector, but it also carried out actions that allowed for greater awareness of the role and prerogatives of all the general directorates of our ministry among decentralized actors in order to have better monitoring and daily management of energy infrastructure by the latter,” he explained.

Véronique Doyon, vice president of Cowater International, said that after almost five years of implementation of the ECED-Mouhoun project activities, significant results have been achieved and expectations for several targets have already been exceeded before the end of the project.

“As announced at the previous steering committee meeting on August 3rd, we were in discussions with the Government of Canada (MAC) to extend the ECBD-Mouhoun project period from April to November 2023. This eleven-month extension of the project was officially granted by AMC on November 10. It goes without saying that the results of this capitalization workshop will make it possible to update the roadmap, the object of this extension period (for the validation of the national part), taking into account the recommendations made during the next two days of the workshop,” she stressed.

Ms. Doyon explained that this extension of the project period will not only cover the year of guarantee with the contractors but also pay particular attention to the empowerment and sustainability of management structures during the operation phase (whether for rural electrification of the 16 localities, the ZAE, the CSPS or the IGA).

She, therefore, invited all participants to join this approach, so that the ECED-Mouhoun project, in its final phase of implementation, plans priority actions that contribute to the sustainability of investments made in this innovative sector which is solar energy.

“Before, we had no electricity and it was very hard. The students were forced to study with the light of telephone torches, which was not without consequences for their health. Also at the level of our CSPS the midwives suffered enormously because the electricity was lacking and during the deliveries, it was very painful for them and for the women in labor,” said Mr. Salgo.

He expressed their sincere thanks to all those who spared no effort to relieve them of their suffering. He took the opportunity to solicit the help of all people of good character to follow the steps of their donors.

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(Featured image by minka2507 via Pixabay)

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First published in lefaso.net, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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