Promoting municipal services and social cohesion

Project description

Title: Decentralization and Social Cohesion (PDCS)
Commissioned by: Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Burkina Faso
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralisation and Security / Ministère de l’Administration Territoriale, de la Décentralisation et de la Sécurité (MATDS)
Overall term: 2021 to 2024

Women in local leadership positions receiving training on speaking techniques in public debates. © GIZ

Context

Almost half of Burkina Faso’s population lives below the poverty line. State and municipal services are in short supply. Particularly in rural areas, there is often no guaranteed access to basic social services. Women, children and young people, people with disabilities and those living in poor households or in rural areas, in particular, experience discrimination when accessing state services. Large sections of the population are excluded from social and political participation in local decision-making processes and, as a result, have little trust in the state and public authorities.

Objective

Needs-based municipal services for social cohesion have been improved.

Mayor of Gaoua during an interactive radio broadcast with the population. © GIZ

Approach

The project supports national and local actors in improving access to municipal services for all population groups and promoting social cohesion in a fragile society.

As part of these efforts, the project supports Burkina Faso’s government in creating political framework conditions that are in line with the ‘Leave no one behind’ principle of the 2030 Agenda.

At the same time, the project strengthens the inclusivity of basic municipal services and infrastructures through training – for example in health, water and education.

In addition, the project supports the 30 partner municipalities in increasing local income. The aim is to increase investment in needs-based basic services and infrastructures, while taking into account the impacts on vulnerable groups. People in the partner municipalities and disadvantaged groups, in particular, are empowered to help shape local political decisions autonomously In the long term, this will strengthen democracy throughout the country.

Some of the measures are being carried out by the consulting company AMBERO.

Last update: February 2022

Additional information