Ouagadougou: The Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean Marie Traor, and the Director General of La Poste Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Saba, were recognized as ambassadors of the National Volunteer Program on Friday evening. This distinction was in recognition of their commitment to promoting and developing volunteering in Burkina Faso, as observed by AIB journalists.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Public Interest Group-National Volunteer Program in Burkina Faso (GIP-PNVB) honored its new ambassadors during a gala dinner on Friday, September 18, 2026. The event gathered notable personalities and stakeholders from the volunteer sector. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and La Poste Burkina Faso were officially recognized as goodwill ambassadors of the GIP-PNVB.
Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traor, in his speech, praised the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Volunteer Program for their efforts in mobilizing and raising awareness among volunteers. He expressed his amazement at the progress made and the dedication of young people in various sectors across Burkina Faso. Traor accepted his distinction with humility and gratitude, viewing it as a call to enhance his efforts in promoting the National Volunteer Programme globally.
Ibrahim Saba, Director General of La Poste Burkina Faso, also expressed his gratitude for the recognition. La Poste has been hosting national volunteers for nearly three years, who have significantly contributed to its operations. Saba viewed the distinction as both recognition and a commitment to furthering volunteering efforts within La Poste Burkina Faso. He encouraged other organizations to leverage the national volunteer program.
Minister for Youth, Annick Lydie Djouma Pikbougoum, expressed her appreciation for the volunteers' contributions to Burkina Faso's development. She highlighted the importance of their commitment in various fields and clarified that the ambassadorial designation recognizes past achievements and seeks to enhance youth engagement in development through volunteering.
Djourmit Nestor Nouf, Director General of GIP-PNVB, explained that the meeting aimed to update the ambassadors, identified and recognized in 2025 on International Volunteer Day, on the achievements of 2025, accomplishments of 2026, and the vision for 2027-2031. The event also included discussions with government members, technical and financial partners, and volunteer sector stakeholders. The ambassadors committed to supporting the National Volunteer Program through resource mobilization.
In 2025, the National Volunteer Program successfully mobilized 52,560 national volunteers throughout Burkina Faso. Djourmit Nestor Nouf announced a new initiative to mobilize one million reserve volunteers, aiming for 200,000 trained volunteers annually. This strategy intends to enhance national capacities, particularly in disaster response or situations necessitating rapid population mobilization.