"Abdoulaye Sawadogo: "The biggest result that satisfies us is the change in mentality

Since 2008, the Association burkinabè de fundraising (ABF) has had the mission of helping associations to mobilise resources and support in Burkina Faso in order to implement projects that contribute to the well-being of their communities. In this interview, its Managing Director, Abdoulaye Sawadogo, reveals ABF's recipe for success. He also presents the major results and investments made by ABF's partner associations. Abdoulaye Sawadogo also discusses the challenges of boosting community development in Burkina Faso.

Sidwaya (S.): Since its creation 15 years ago, the Association burkinabè de Fundraising (ABF) has made endogenous development its hobbyhorse. Why this choice?

A.S. : It all started with an observation. Since the ABF was set up, we have noticed that there are many NGOs in Burkina Faso that receive a lot of aid from the state or development associations, but the results are not as we would like them to be. A lot of money has been invested in socio-economic infrastructure. But the same problems still exist. We still have problems with water, health, education and so on. Now, the question we've been asking ourselves is whether the aid we receive, as a development association or as a State, meets the priorities of the people of Burkina Faso. That's why most of the projects that have been developed have failed. For ABF, we need to change the way things are done, in other words, put the community at the forefront of things. If the community is able to choose its priorities, we can be sure that it meets its real needs. In this way, we can work together to respond to the problems that the community itself has identified. Instead of using funding to impose sectors of activity when we're not sure that the beneficiaries will adhere, it's the community that is at the root of the whole process from now on.

1. As part of its drive to promote endogenous development, ABF is implementing two programmes in particular: Change the Game Academy and Giving for Change. Can you give us a brief overview?

A.S. : Yes, ABF, since

2017, introduced the Change the Game Academy programme. This programme promotes endogenous development by building the capacity of civil society organisations to mobilise local resources and support. This programme has been able to work with some sixty associations in Burkina Faso that have demonstrated their ability to mobilise resources on the ground and have implemented projects that are visible today. Since 2022, we have extended this programme to include associations in seven other countries in French-speaking Africa that have made a request based on the results of our work in Burkina Faso.

Results that we have achieved in Burkina. These are Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal and Togo. The second programme is called "Giving for Change". It is somewhat similar to the first. The difference is that several players are involved, compared with the first programme, where we worked solely with associations that developed their project ideas and mobilised resources at local level to carry out social projects. In the 'Giving for Change' programme, the government, religious and traditional leaders, human rights activists and the press all play their part in achieving endogenous development. The idea is that the administration can facilitate procedures, while traditional and religious leaders, through their advice, can guide actions, and so on. The success of the programme depends on the support of all the players in society. This is a pilot programme being implemented in six regions of Burkina Faso. It's a pilot programme to see how it can contribute to development. At present, 40 associations are being trained, with the support of all these players, to learn how to mobilise resources and overcome the problems that have been raised in these various localities.

1. What led to the choice of these six regions?

A.S. : It's a programme funded by one of our partners and friends, the Dutch government. We obtained funding under the "strengthening civil society" programme. In Burkina, the programme covers the Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-East, Centre-North, East, North and Sahel regions.

1. What are the key results of these two programmes?

A.S : The most satisfying result is the change in mentality. This is the biggest result, because when we started working with all the partner associations, they were waiting for funding. These associations were going round the NGO offices to apply for funding. They didn't always get positive responses, or none at all. But now, with the support of ABF, these associations are no longer waiting, they are getting organised at grassroots level and giving themselves a deadline for funding their projects. It depends on the size of the project. If it's a micro-project costing between 5 and 10 million CFA francs, they can complete the financing in one or two years. When the budget is more substantial, they can give themselves three or four years with ABF's coaching to mobilise the resources and carry out the project that has been identified. On the ground, the "Change the Game Academy" programme has boosted a number of associations that have made investments to benefit their communities. In the Mouhoun loop, 500 internally displaced pupils have been supported by the "Schooling project for 500 IDP children" run by OCADES Dédougou, which has

Raised 50 million F CFA in cash and other donations in kind through the organisation of a lottery and personal solicitation. The association for small African projects has built a 3-classroom school, which has been standardised by the State, in the village of Sidi2 in the province of Kénédougou thanks to a local donor.

In the Centre-East region, the Fondation d'Aide aux Projets Sahéliens has rehabilitated a 45,000m3 water reservoir in the village of Silmiougou, benefiting 50 young people and women. SCOOP Yanyema in Fada N'Gourma has set up a market garden for internally displaced women in the eastern region. In the town of Koupéla, OCADES Koupéla has built 3 water points in 2 neighbourhoods where families were struggling to get access to drinking water. ABF is very proud of these results and we are going to continue to support other structures.

ABF CEO Abdoulaye Sawadogo: "In the Centre-East region, the Fondation d'Aide aux Projets Sahéliens has rehabilitated a water reservoir with a capacity of 45,000 m3 in the village of Silmiougou, benefiting 50 young people and women, thanks to coaching from ABF".

1. What is the recipe used by ABF to obtain these results?

A.S. ABF's strategy is firstly to pass on knowledge and skills to our partner associations. Then coaching to help them achieve their objectives. This transmission of knowledge and skills is a training trajectory that takes a year for each module, with intervals for practical application where ABF provides coaching. ABF's coaching takes place in the field. ABF goes out into the field, examines the structure and helps managers to identify strengths, weaknesses and weaknesses. opportunities to achieve their objectives. There are structures that have potential both internally and externally, so ABF helps them to seize every opportunity, so that communities can act by themselves and for themselves. ABF also focuses on the quality of the human resources, the certified trainers who work with these different associations.

1. : How can I take advantage of this coaching service?

A.S. : The ABF receives all requests from associations. Now, as the trajectory is very expensive, a grant is awarded to support the various associations.

Unfortunately, this grant cannot cover the hundreds of applications we receive every year. We can't take on everyone. But we are in the process of developing initiatives to increase the number of beneficiary organisations per year. This also involves increasing the number of certified trainers we currently have.

1. On 26 October 2023, ABF organised a national forum on community development. What challenges did stakeholders identify during this meeting?

A.S. : This forum was a first. It taught the ABF many lessons. First of all, it was a great success, because all the players we invited took part in the work. And the results really met our expectations. Speaking of challenges, the first challenge is that in Burkina Faso we don't have what we call a culture of giving. So, at individual level, we need to work on changing this mentality so that everyone who can do something to change things takes action. At government level, there isn't really a clear policy to facilitate fundraising at local level from companies, individuals or other players who can invest in development. If we can overcome even one of these challenges, we will be able to sethand in hand, do many things to ensure the success of our business. development of Burkina Faso.

1. What are the prospects for boosting community development in Burkina Faso?

A.S. : There are plenty of opportunities to boost development community. As they say, every cloud has a silver lining. The situation we are currently experiencing has led the Burkinabè to understand that their development must be achieved by themselves. This awareness must be maintained if we really want our development to meet our priorities. The other perspective is to change the paradigm for all the development initiatives that donors are promoting. After several attempts with mixed results, it is time to put the community at the centre of all policies. This will facilitate the ABF's work in Burkina Faso and Africa. We are currently promoting the "Change the Game Academy" network, which started in Burkina. This network will work with the private sector and the government to break down certain barriers.

1. Endogenous development has become a fashionable theme. How do you feel about this craze?

A.S. I'm really pleased that so many people are singing this concept every day, even if many don't understand what it means and others don't know where to start.

It's good that people are coming to realise that we have to work on our own to develop, even if a lot of people are still talking and holding press conferences.

I think that if we really want to developAll these players who want to get the ball rolling need to get together and share their ideas to take things further.

Sources: Sydwaya N° 100671 - Environnement & Développement - Thursday 8 Feb 2024

Nadège YE