News

“Promotion of the Solar Pump Irrigation System and Solar Mini Grids in Burkina Faso” Project Launching ceremony

Tuesday, June 29, 2021 – The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Government of Burkina Faso officially launched the Promotion of the solar pump irrigation system and solar mini grids in Burkina Faso project in Ouagadougou. This project is part of GGGI’s Solar Irrigation Global Program. Burkina Faso is beneficiary of this project with the financial support of Denmark. The chairman of the ceremony was the Director of the Cabinet of the Ministry of Agriculture, Hydro-Agricultural Developments and Mechanization representing his Minister with as authority at the presidium:

  • the Director of cabinet of the Minister of Energy, mines and quarrying representing his Minister;
  • the Designated National Authority of the Green Climate Fund representing the Minister of the Environment, Green Economy and Climate Change;
  • the Program Officer of the Agricultural Sector of the Kingdom of Denmark representing His Excellency Mr Ambassador and;
  • the Country Representative of GGGI.

The SIPS (Solar Irrigation Pumping System) component aims to bring economical and reliable sources of energy to remote areas, increase agricultural productivity to ensure food security, build resilience to climate change, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through smart farming practices. The SMG component (Solar Mini-Grids) will allow access to modern and sustainable energy services which underpin both the field of health, education, and the means of subsistence of the population. It is also a significant contribution to resilience to climate change. The direct beneficiaries of the project are as follows:

  • 1,000 farmers in the coverage areas who will be trained on various topics related to climate-friendly agricultural practices, and in natural resources management;
  • 30 village development councils (CVDs) which will see their capacities strengthened in terms of land improvement, forest management, non-timber forest products and water management;
  • 100 women entrepreneurs will see their capacities improved, with the aim of creating and consolidating green jobs.

The project launch ceremony enabled technical and financial partners, programs coordinators, government representatives from the project implementation areas, the private sector, and civil society organizations to learn about the new project. The following results were achieved during the ceremony:

  • The first officials of the ministerial departments in charge of Agriculture, Energy and Environment were informed of the actions already initiated within the framework of the project and of the outlines of the project;
  • The mechanism for implementing and monitoring project actions was presented;
  • The suggestions from participants were collected and connections for further study were made;
  • The presentation of solar irrigation pumps was carried out;
  • some beneficiaries received symbolically vouchers for solar irrigation kits and training programs.

The ceremony was marked by the symbolic delivery of training and solar pumping kits vouchers to some beneficiaries.

The project has received the support of agricultural sector actors, who have expressed a desire to see its scaling up as soon as possible.

The representative of the Minister of Agriculture and his collaborators are committed to support the implementation of the project and wish its scaling up throughout the territory.