Sandbondtenga: The Association of Women in the Mining Sector of Burkina Faso (AFEMIB) recently established Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) offices for the Nongtaba mining cooperative in Korsimoro and the Relwend© maize production cooperative in Zabtenga. This initiative took place on February 18 and 19, 2026, aiming to enhance economic empowerment in these regions.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the AFEMIB program officer, Nab €š¬°douard Kambir©, along with his team, first provided training to the target cooperatives on the AVEC community savings operating mechanism. They also assisted in drafting the internal regulations before establishing the VSLA offices. This activity is part of a broader initiative by AFEMIB, targeting ten communes in Burkina Faso, including Korsimoro, to ensure the financial viability of income-generating activities for cooperatives near artisanal mining sites.

Nab €š¬°douard Kambir© expressed satisfaction with the successful implementation of the approach in both cooperatives following the training and awareness-raising activities. He highlighted the significance of AVECs in securing savings, facilitating credit access, and strengthening the beneficiaries' economic autonomy.

The beneficiaries of the project expressed their appreciation for AFEMIB's support. Lassan© Tirango, spokesperson for the Nongtaba cooperative in Korsimoro, assured their commitment to earning the trust of their partner.

The establishment of AVECs is a component of the Project to support the strengthening of land and mining management (PARGFM), focusing on enhancing administrative skills and solidarity savings among 20 cooperatives as part of community development efforts.