CRS Partners in Burkina Faso

Catholic Relief Services' main partner in Burkina Faso is the Catholic Church. In many cases, CRS works directly with dioceses to implement programs and emergency relief. The Church has recently collaborated with CRS on fairs to distribute seeds, housing materials and agricultural tools to Burkinabé hit by the 2007 floods.

At the community level, CRS has a number of partners, including HIV and AIDS associations and support groups, orphanages, community rehabilitation centers for malnourished children, associations representing physically and mentally disabled people, village management committees, local government officials, and community-based organizations.

OCADES

Since our establishment in Burkina Faso in 1960, CRS has worked with OCADES (Organisation Catholique pour le Développement et la Solidarité), the development organization of the Catholic Church. In our microfinance programming, CRS and OCADES have collaborated to develop a microfinance institution. CRS' role included the startup funding and technical assistance, with an exit strategy focused on transferring the ownership, governance and professional management of the institution to a Church-owned program. OCADES is also a partner in the implementation of agricultural, humanitarian and HIV programming.

Government of Burkina Faso

CRS works with the Ministry of Basic Education and Literacy at both the regional and provincial levels. The ministry is closely involved with CRS' school feeding and school health programs. The Ministry of Social Action and National Solidarity collaborates with CRS to provide food rations in order to promote attendance at early childhood development centers.

Tin Tua

Tin Tua is a community development organization created in 1989. In the local Gulmancema language, "Tin Tua" means, "Let's develop ourselves for ourselves." The principal activities of the association are basic and nonformal education—especially adult literacy—and food security. Tin Tua currently works with CRS on water and soil conservation projects.

Wend Yam

Federation Wend Yam is a local, nongovernmental organization officially recognized in 1987. While its office is located in Ziniaré, in the province of Oubritenga, Wend Yam is present in 21 of Burkina Faso's 45 provinces, specializing in agriculture literacy programs. CRS works with Wend Yam on a market gardening project.