Dedougou: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) handed over 41 desktop computers and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) in Dedougou to strengthen the operationalization of the Opportunity-Integration Referents (ROPI) program in beneficiary municipalities. The ceremony was presided over by the Secretary General of the Bankui Region, Adjara Sandrine Kientega Ouedraogo, in the presence of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Sports, Colette Ouedraogo.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the ROPI initiative, championed by the Ministry in charge of Sports, is seen as a significant mechanism to enhance local development, combat unemployment, and bolster the resilience of young people in rural areas. Colette Ouedraogo commended the commitment of participants, urging them to continue their work with dedication, discipline, and a focus on public service.
Adjara Sandrine Kientega/Ouedraogo highlighted that the training for the 41 ROPIs encompassed their roles and responsibilities, techniques for guiding young people, and the use of monitoring and evaluation tools. This initiative is part of a broader strategy involving the deployment of ROPIs, provision of computer equipment, and continuous capacity building for rural youth.
Patrice Joseph Quenum, representing UNDP, reiterated the institution's commitment to supporting the government's efforts towards resilience and socio-economic integration, emphasizing that ROPIs are now facilitators of opportunities and agents of change in their communities.
Expressing gratitude on behalf of the beneficiaries, Yacouba Sere thanked the ministry and UNDP for the training and equipment, assuring their intention to apply the skills acquired while calling for further support and expanded training sessions.
In a display of civic engagement, ROPI presented a receipt for 110,000 CFA francs, the price of a ton of cement intended for the Faso Mebo initiative, illustrating their contribution to local solidarity efforts. The ceremony concluded with authorities urging responsible and results-oriented use of the equipment to enhance services for young people and promote rural community development.
The Burkinabe government prioritizes reducing territorial disparities in socioeconomic opportunities through decentralization, despite challenges such as limited resources and local authorities' appropriation of transferred powers. Addressing the urgent challenge of improving employability and professional integration of rural youth, the government has implemented the ROPI Initiative. The Ministry in charge of Sports, through YouthConnekt Burkina's permanent secretariat, oversees this initiative across numerous rural and select urban communes.
The ROPI Initiative aims to empower young women, girls, and boys in rural regions socio-economically, aligning with the government's objectives amid a multidimensional crisis.