Spotlight on children's rights: KfW and Burkina Faso extend cooperation

• EUR 6 million provided for the protection of children's rights
• Measures reinforce legal, institutional, socio-economic and cultural parameters
• New phase of project dedicated primarily to vocational training and start-ups

KfW and the Burkinabe government are extending their cooperation to support the protection of children's rights in Burkina Faso. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), KfW is implementing a project to improve living conditions for children and young people already at risk, those potentially at risk, and their families. The measure also promotes the underlying conditions needed for the protection of children's rights on both a national and local scale. This new phase of the project is complementing existing efforts by increasing the focus on vocational training and start-up activity among young adults. With the latest financial contribution of EUR 6 million, KfW is increasing its total commitment to the children's fund to around EUR 25 million.

"As has long been the case, the unstable living conditions experienced by children and young people is a core problem for Burkina Faso's development," says Professor Joachim Nagel, Member of the Executive Board at KfW Group. "The Burkinabe government is aware of this challenge and is tackling it with concrete measures as part of the national development strategy 'Plan National de Développement Economique et Social'. KfW is making a relevant contribution to improving the situation and future prospects for children and young people in Burkina Faso."

The measures include school scholarships, free school meals, and the construction of vocational training centres, youth clubs, centres for the reintegration of convicted minors, and hostels for street children. A further measure applied at both municipal and national level is a concept to raise public awareness of children's rights.

Child trafficking and child labour are a wide-spread problem in Burkina Faso. According to estimates by the Burkinabe authorities, around half of the country's children are employed in private homes, agricultural operations or gold mines. And this trend is on the rise due to an increasing number of gold mines and ongoing poverty. The high level of poverty and out-of-date school system are intensifying these negative developments. These are also driven by socio-cultural practices and the high number of orphans caused by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

More information on KfW Development Bank is available at:

https://www.kfw-entwicklungsbank.de/