By Isabella Njeri
In a bold move towards sustainable development, the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) has launched an innovative project in Burkina Faso to harness solar power to create jobs and promote green economic growth. This project aims to transform local businesses and boost employment in key sectors across the country.
The “Promotion of Solar Solutions to Stimulate Green Employment in Burkina Faso” (PROSSEV-BF) project, launched in Ouagadougou, the country’s capital, represents a significant step forward in its commitment to renewable energy and economic development.
With a budget of EUR 1.7 million, funded by Luxembourg Cooperation through LuxDev, the project targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Centre and Hauts-Bassins regions.
In 2020, only 21% of the population had access to electricity, making Burkina Faso one of the world’s least electrified countries. This stark reality underscores the critical importance of the PROSSEV-BF project in addressing the country’s energy challenges and fostering economic growth.
PROSSEV-BF’s primary focus is on greening production facilities in various sectors, including agriculture, agribusiness, and forestry. By subsidizing solar installations for 25 private companies and qualifying five firms to become solar system installers, the project aims to create 175 new direct and indirect jobs within these companies and their value chains.
The initiative is designed to benefit a wide range of businesses operating in crucial sectors of the Burkinabè economy. These include non-timber forest products (such as shea, desert date palm, and moringa), fisheries production and processing, mango cultivation, rice farming, market gardening, livestock and poultry value chains, oil palm production, waste recovery, and cotton farming.
Victoria Sabula, CEO of the AECF, emphasized the project’s significance, stating, “This project represents a significant step towards sustainable economic growth in the country, and Luxembourg’s commitment to the region. By facilitating access to finance for solar installations, we are empowering businesses to adopt clean energy solutions that drive innovation and sustainability for the people of Burkina Faso.”
The AECF’s approach involves using a ‘challenge model’ to identify and support innovative green growth projects with social impact. Selected companies will receive performance-based grants and technical assistance, enabling them to enhance operational efficiency and achieve project goals.
Pierre-Henri Dohogne, country representative of LuxDev, expressed pride in supporting the PROSSEV-BF project, noting that it aligns perfectly with Luxembourg Cooperation’s long-standing commitment to Burkina Faso. “By enabling access to solar energy, Luxembourg Cooperation is supporting the reduction of businesses’ environmental footprints and improving their economic resilience,” Dohogne said.
The project builds upon Luxembourg’s nearly 25-year presence in Burkina Faso, during which it has provided technical and financial support in various areas, including the environment, vocational training, youth employment, digital technology, and sustainable finance.
PROSSEV-BF represents a collaborative effort between international development organizations and local businesses to address the dual challenges of environmental sustainability and economic growth. By focusing on solar energy adoption, the project aims to reduce the environmental impact of businesses while simultaneously improving their economic viability and creating new job opportunities.
For SMEs in Burkina Faso, this initiative offers a chance to modernize operations, reduce energy costs, and increase competitiveness. The solar installations will provide a reliable power source, crucial for businesses operating in regions with inconsistent electricity supply. This stability is expected to boost productivity and enable companies to expand their operations, leading to job creation and economic growth.
The project’s focus on diverse sectors ensures a broad-based impact across the Burkinabè economy. From improving cold storage facilities for agricultural products to powering processing plants for shea butter and other non-timber forest products, the solar installations will address specific needs within each industry.
Moreover, by qualifying five companies to become solar system installers, PROSSEV-BF is laying the groundwork for a sustainable solar industry in Burkina Faso. This approach not only creates immediate jobs but also builds local capacity for future renewable energy projects, potentially spurring a new sector of green technology jobs in the country.
The PROSSEV-BF project comes at a crucial time when many African nations are seeking ways to balance economic development with environmental sustainability. Burkina Faso’s initiative could serve as a model for other countries in the region, demonstrating how targeted investments in renewable energy can drive economic growth and job creation while reducing carbon emissions.
If successful, PROSSEV-BF could mark the beginning of a new era of sustainable development in Burkina Faso, powered by the abundant sunlight that has long been one of the country’s greatest natural resources.
