D©dougou: The city of D©dougou hosted the launch ceremony on Saturday, April 17, 2026, for the communication campaign to promote girls' enrollment and retention in school, called "Kom-pugli karaong Y´ondo." The initiative aims to strengthen community commitment to girls' education and retention and is part of Component 1 of the Women's Empowerment and Demographic Dividend in Sub-Saharan Africa Plus (SWEDD+) project.
According to Burkina Information Agency, despite efforts and commitments in Burkina Faso towards education for all, significant challenges persist. These obstacles lead to early school dropouts, increased vulnerability of girls to early pregnancies, and marginalization within the education system. The regional SWEDD+ project, in its new phase, seeks to extend its impact by offering more girls and women improved access to education, essential health services, and economic opportunities.
The "Kom-pugli karaong Y´ondo" campaign aims to induce behavioral change in Nakamb© and Bankui populations to promote secondary education and vocational training for girls. It seeks to mobilize all stakeholders around the goal of guaranteeing every girl equitable access to quality education and promoting its continuation.
The representative of the Director General of Specific Support at the Ministry in charge of Secondary Education, Mamouna Sanon, emphasized the campaign's importance, which aligns with the national drive for inclusive and equitable education. She acknowledged the commitment of technical and financial partners, particularly UNFPA, for their support of the government's efforts in girls' education.
Ms. Sanon highlighted that the choice of the Bankui, Sourou, and Nakamb© regions was due to their concerning indicators, with gross enrollment rates for girls at 36% for Bankui and Sourou and 32% for Nakamb©, compared to a national average of 46%. She pointed out that sociocultural pressures, security challenges, and early motherhood, with over 670 cases recorded in 2025 in these regions, often disrupt girls' education.
UNFPA Resident Representative in Burkina Faso, Yves Sassenrath, reaffirmed the institution's commitment to supporting actions that remove socio-cultural and economic barriers to girls' schooling. The interventions highlighted the vital role of traditional and religious leaders and communities in promoting and sustaining girls' education as a key lever for sustainable development.
Following the official ceremony, a panel discussed the theme of schooling and keeping girls in school. The discussions identified persistent challenges and proposed solutions to improve girls' access to and retention in the education system. The integrated caravan, scheduled from April 18 to 30, 2026, in the Bankui and Nakamb© regions, will include community theatre, educational talks, and local radio broadcasts to raise awareness. Advocacy with traditional and religious authorities for concrete commitments and free reproductive health care offerings in visited localities will accompany these efforts.