Emergency territorial development and resilience project: infrastructure inaugurated in Fada N’Gourma

PUDTR invested approximately 30 billion CFA francs in the construction of structural infrastructure in various sectors of the Fada N’Gourma city. This includes health, education, socio-economic and sanitation infrastructure. Attention should also be paid to the material and financial support provided for the development of income-generating activities. Some of this infrastructure was inaugurated for the well-being of the beneficiary population.

The authorities present at the official inauguration first visited the construction site of the multi-purpose hall, followed by the inauguration of sewer pipes and roads, the CSPS in Region II, and the Centre for Early Learning and Pre-school Education (CEEP) in Yandabulli. Some other infrastructure has been completed while others are under construction.

Captain Anderson Celeste Meda, Chief of Staff of the President of Faso, who represented the Faso Head of State at the inauguration, was amazed by the achievements. He took the opportunity to invite the people of the region to remain resilient and support the efforts of the authorities in development plans and the fight against terrorism. “We are here to inaugurate the infrastructure of this beautiful city (Fada). We see beautiful infrastructure. I think this is also a message. It is also an invitation to the people of the region who already have resilience, to continue this dynamism, to encourage and support the authorities, who also take measures to maintain these infrastructures,” he said.

For the Minister in charge of the Economy, Dr. Aboubakar Nacanabo, the government intends to strengthen the resilience of the city of Fada N’Gourma and its inhabitants through these actions. “This intervention is necessary to help the city absorb the shock that will come with the massive influx of internally displaced persons. The HIMO (High Labour Intensity) concept has its full meaning in the paving of the city of Fada. The company in charge of paving the city’s arteries has trained thousands of internally displaced persons in the manufacture and crushing of paving stones, thus offering them a pleasant opportunity to now be independent and to engage in a new profession,” he declared.

While thanking the World Bank Group for its “substantial and permanent technical and financial support to the people of Burkina Faso”, the Minister of Economy urged the PUDTR team and all the companies on the construction site to redouble their efforts to achieve the completion of the remaining works within the stipulated time. He also invited the special delegation of the town of Fada N’Gourma to take appropriate measures to ensure the sustainability of the works.

The World Bank’s Resident Representative in Burkina Faso, Hamoud Abdel Wedoud Kamil, recalled that the creation of PUDTR was due to the Burkinabe government’s desire to address the challenges of fragility and to establish internal sources of revenue. Eighteen months after the end of the project, the project’s financial institution, the World Bank, through its Resident Representative in Burkina Faso, welcomed the “satisfactory” results, which were reflected in the achievements of the inauguration theme of Fada N’ Gourma.

While welcoming the “dynamism and quality” of the partnership between the World Bank and Burkina Faso, Hammoud Abdel Wedud Kamil reiterated the World Bank’s commitment to supporting Burkina Faso in achieving its development goals.

The construction of these infrastructures has received a positive response from the main beneficiaries. For Jérôme Idani, president of the Special Delegation of the Town of Fadda N’Gourma (PDS), these infrastructures will strengthen resilience and boost the local economy. “Fada is now an attractive city. These infrastructures created by the PUDTR satisfy the entire population, the dynamic forces of the region and the local authorities. They will make it possible to sustainably improve the living conditions of our people, strengthen our resilience and boost the local economy. These infrastructures will help settle young people who aspire to emigrate to other countries,” he stressed.

The PDS of the Fada N’Gourma community ensured that arrangements and actions were made for the sustainable management of these infrastructures.

During the inauguration, PUDTR presented cheques and kits to individuals and associations in the Eastern Region for income generating activities.

The Minister of Economy said that after three years of implementation, the project has been truly satisfying. In fact, according to official data, to date, PUDTR has built 431 fully equipped classrooms, directly affecting more than 1.5 million people; provided more than 15,695 pieces of school furniture and 47,519 educational equipment in emergency situations, including solar lights, workstations and laptops; built and equipped 103 health infrastructures in 57 health facilities and built two new health and social promotion centers; built 30 intersection structures and asphalted 72 kilometers of roads.

We also note that 27,975 tons of fertilizer and 2,035 tons of improved seeds were provided to producers at subsidized prices, 70,000 tons of food were provided to help address the food and nutrition crisis, and support was provided for income-generating activities. 60 associations and 1,950 vulnerable groups benefited.

To date, more than 11,000 jobs have been created, more than 5 billion CFA francs in revenue have been distributed, and 1,823 people affected by project activities have received compensation of approximately 557 million CFA francs.

It is important to remind you that PUDTR is financed by the World Bank with over 260 billion CFA francs. The overall disbursement rate for the five-year project (2021-2025) is expected to reach 62% within 18 months after the end of the project.

Mamadou Zongo

Lefaso.net