Tenkodogo:The civil society organization (CSO) incubation program, led by the Center for Information, Training and Studies on the Budget (CIFOEB) with support from the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel), has led to significant changes in civic practices across five municipalities. This was highlighted on Wednesday during a seminar in Tenkodogo aimed at sharing experiences.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the president of the special delegation (PDS) of Tenkodogo, Sami Bérenger Pooda, emphasized the transformation of beneficiary CSOs. Previously focused on demands and criticisms, these organizations are now actively involved in communication, awareness-raising, and supporting local development actions, making them key partners in implementing development initiatives.
The seminar marked the conclusion of the incubation program, which engaged two cohorts of CSOs across the municipalities of Tenkodogo, Koupéla, Mogtédo, Boussouma, and Zorgho. Pooda commended CIFOEB's dedication and Enabel's support and encouraged ongoing collaboration between organizations and municipalities for effective development action implementation.
Dr. Aïda Dao, responsible for studies, analyses, and action research at CIFOEB, explained that the seminar aimed to facilitate the exchange of experiences, capitalize on best practices, identify challenges, and develop future perspectives for civic engagement.
To ensure continuity, CIFOEB has provided incubated CSOs with access to a free virtual resource center focused on citizen participation and a certified online learning platform dedicated to local development strategies.
Issoufou Ilboudo, a local governance expert from INADES-Formation Burkina, expressed satisfaction with the commitment shown by the organizations over the two years of support. He noted that the goal remains to strengthen the dialogue between citizens, CSOs, and local authorities to promote more participatory and inclusive local public action.
The seminar featured presentations from various organizations, including the Association Solidarité Action Faire Face (ASAFF) of Tenkodogo, TIN-TUA/FORA, the Initiative for Sustainable Development (IDD) of Koupéla, and the Association Jeunesse et Valorisation du Leadership (AJVL) of Boussouma, showcasing their experiences and achievements.
Abdoul Moumini Zongo, representing a beneficiary organization, highlighted the essential skills gained from the training received in 2025 and continued strengthening in 2026, which include public policy analysis, advocacy, gender, and design thinking. These skills are expected to enhance CSOs' management capabilities, enable effective engagement with authorities, and strengthen community representation.
Participants were encouraged to transform their newly acquired skills into sustainable actions, create synergies between CSOs, and utilize CIFOEB's learning tools to consolidate citizen participation and better address community needs.
Source Burkina Information Agency