Relevant Information

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is a landlocked nation in West Africa.It is surrounded by six countries: Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire.A 2002 estimate of Burkina Faso's population came in at 12,603,185. Its inhabitants are known as Burkinabè.

Highlights

• Burkina is ranked one of the poorest countries in the world and also as the most illiterate.

• Burkina have beautiful landscapes, a lot of African culture and music

• It's official language is French

• The predominant religion is Islam

• The official currency is the CFA franc

• Has a tropical climate with two seasons:
  
  
  

• The dry season, which lasts eight months 

• The rainy between June and October.

Economy

• About 90% of the population is engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture, which is highly vulnerable to variations in rainfall, the most important product is the Cotton.

• A large part of the economic activity of the country is funded by international aid.

• Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations, Mineral exploitation of copper, iron, manganese, and, above all, gold. The effects are corruption and financial disparity. (The rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer)

Education

• Education in Burkina Faso is structured primary, secondary, and higher education. Education is technically free and officially mandatory until the age of 16.

• Though schooling is free, attendance is not enforced, and only about 35% of Burkina's primary school-age children receive a basic education.

• Have institutions of higher education include University of Ouagadougou and The Polytechnical University in Bobo-Dioulasso.

• The United Nations Development Program Report places Burkina Faso as the most illiterate country in the world, with only a 12.8% literacy rate. 

INTERNAL PROBLEMS

Burkina Faso is one of the world's poorest countries, has a very low level of tourists and infrastructure for them is very basic. However, there are interesting opportunities for those who want to know the African continent. Despite their poverty, Burkina Faso is a relatively stable and safe country, so you will have no trouble enjoying on a camel caravan in the desert area north or enjoy nature in the Volta River Basin.

Having founded five sectoral trade unions, a forum for social dialogue and a mutual fund, Burkina Faso's unions are gradually demarginalizing the informal economy.

Burkina Faso is not the haven of peace and stability it used to be seen as. Located in the heart of a conflict-ridden region, torn by civil wars and post-electoral crises like in Côte d’Ivoire or Mali – two states sharing their borders and their destiny with Burkina – the country also suffers from a tense internal situation characterized by frustrations, low-level conflicts in both urban and rural areas, and socio-political struggles. Threats of a political crisis, social unrest and military mutinies remain very real while President Blaise Compaoré’s regime, in place for a quarter of a century, appears timeworn. 
But this situación was analized by a organization and explain the solution for these problems with surveys and many other techniques giving importance to the habitant opinions and Conditions. Other problems included in the investigation is the religion of the habitants, and the problems with the agriculture and farmer jobs that cause many discussions, and one of the most important the poorest condition that have the country and the causes of that. Here we have the document of the investigation read it is a good article.

EXPERTS OPINION

1. BBC News reported that Burkina Faso is  a poor country even by West African standards, landlocked Burkina Faso has suffered from recurring droughts and, until the 1980s, military coups.

• Economy: Burkina Faso has significant reserves of gold, but cotton is the economic mainstay for many Burkinabes. This industry is vulnerable to changes in world prices and Burkina Faso is a leading cotton producer in sub-Saharan Africa

• Politics: A popular uprising against long-term leader President Blaise Compaore prompted him to flee in 2014. The military has taken charge, angering the opposition which wants civilian rule

• International: Burkina Faso has been involved in the various conflicts of the region. Many citizens who had traditionally worked in Ivory Coast fled after recent instability there

• Burkina Faso has faced domestic and external concern over the state of its economy and human rights, and allegations that it was involved in the smuggling of diamonds by rebels in Sierra Leone.

for more information click in the link
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13072774

 2. Opinion of Estelle Koussoube about Burkina Faso in terms of economic growth and development.
She said that the political history of Burkina Faso has been very unstable until president Campaoré took power in 1987. Since then, the stability has been based on low intensity violence, with bursts of open violence like those of the mutinies of 2011. This “stability” is based on the balance of power between two main “elite” groups, the army and the traditional chiefs. Trade unions, the Catholic Church and Donors also play a role, especially in case of trouble. The political class in power and its

cronies are extracting rents by creating de facto monopolies, which enables them to tame violence, to a certain extent. The paradox is that the Burkinabe economy is growing steadily (GDP per capital grew at an average 1.5 per cent rate since independence), rather smoothly in the medium run – one of the best records in West-Africa. Because of high inequality, this impressive growth is far from inclusive.

for more information click in the link

http://basepub.dauphine.fr/bitstream/handle/123456789/12352/DT%202014-01%20Koussoube%20-Loada%20-%20Nebi%C3%A9%20-%20Raffinot.pdf?sequence=1

One of the organizations that are helping in this problem in Burkina Faso is the UNHCR(United Nation High Commisioner for Refugees, and they tell that:

We will continue to provide protection and multi-sectoral assistance to, and promote the self-reliance of, refugees. Conditions permitting, the organization will support Malian refugees in Burkina Faso willing to return home and use resettlement as both a protection tool and durable solution for the most vulnerable. UNHCR will ensure delivery of health services in refugee camps, strengthening reproductive health, HIV and AIDS services, and health referrals. The organization aims to ensure that at least 5,000 refugee children are enrolled in quality primary education in 2015. The construction of durable transitional shelters and the distribution of shelter materials and tool kits will also be a UNHCR priority in Burkina Faso. If you want to know the condition in the rest of the countries in Africa you can read more here.

Other organization is World Bank that knows how this situation are affecting all the people in Burkina Faso and Africa in general, they do a investigacion of how can improve some aspects that are critical in all the Countries but, they tell that the situation in Burkina will be cyclical for many years that complicate the posible solutions, here we have the article that have surveys, opinions, many aspects, etc.

To summarize the organization interested in Africa are aware that the situation in this Continent are complicate and will need some help to pass it but trust that why some invertions, and why changes in the goverment all of the problems will be things of the past.

SOLUTIONS
Then of look the experts opinion, we propose some solutions such as:

The first thought is to educate the community, because if they have knowledge, they will be able to work and grow in society

How will they get it?

• Building schools where all children can learn.
• Mothers and fathers can learn simple jobs by professional people 

The second solution is create a democratic government where everyone can vote

How will they get it?

• Perform a negotiation meeting
• The whole society may choose the type of government

Other posible solution is invest in the principal economic activities, to help the workers and give to them and their families a better conditions, and this will improve the production. The most important aspect is research agricultural solutions that can give work to more people and improve the internal economy, here you have more information about that.

 

Task 4 Nicolás

Education in Burkina Faso is divided into primary, secondary and higher education.

However schooling is not free.
Secondary school costs approximately CFA 80 000 ($166 USD) per year, which is far above the means of most Burkinabè families.

Boys receive preference in schooling; as such, girls’ education and literacy rates are far lower than their male counterparts.
An increase in girls’ schooling has been observed due to the government’s policy of making school cheaper for girls and granting them more scholarships.

Solutions

Then of look the experts opinion, we propose some solutions such as:


The first thought is to educate the community, because if they have knowledge, they will be able to work and grow in society


How will they get it?

• Building schools where all children can learn.
• Mothers and fathers can learn simple jobs by professional people 

The second solution is create a democratic government where everyone can vote

How will they get it?

• Perform a negotiation meeting
• The whole society may choose the type of government

Expert's opinion

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West África a round 274,200 square kilometres in size, have more than 17 million of habitants, also in Burkina there are many migrations because of low resourses, so thousands of people migrate trying to improve their lifestyle, but there are not many chances because their surrounding low-income countries have also different problems. The president has joined Twitter to its policy to publish his political movements in order that the citizen can participate on it; but actually even it could be a great idea, not many people have computers or smartphones. On one hand it is good because he can receive feedback and support from peolple around the world but otherwise people in the country will not be able to participate actively in the movements or hear what is happening with their country.

The 2011 Burkinabè protests were a series of popular protests that called for the resignation of Compaoré, democratic reforms, higher wages for troops and public servants and economic freedom

Burkina Faso has good relations with the European Union, African and Asian countries. France, the former colonial power, in particular, continues to provide significant aid and supports Compaoré's developing role as a regional powerbroker

Political freedoms are severely restricted in Burkina Faso. Human rights organizations have criticised the Compaoré administration for numerous acts of state sponsored violence against journalists and other politically active members of society

Experts opinion

Burkina Faso rarely makes the headlines. It is less known for politics than for hosting Africa’s leading film festival.

President Blaise Compaoré has sought to retain domestic support and international confidence through economic development, presenting himself as the face of stable continuity. West Africa’s preeminent diplomatic crisis mediator, he is also a key security ally of the West.

But Compaoré’s regime now faces its gravest crisis since he seized power almost 27 years ago following the unexplained murder of his close colleague, the charismatic revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara.

Now in 2014, seeking to change the constitution so he could run for up to three more consecutive terms of office – starting with next year’s presidential election – he appears to have pushed popular acceptance beyond breaking point.

Earlier this week, hundreds of thousands of people filled the streets of Ouagadougou to demonstrate against a planned parliamentary vote to approve the constitutional change.

Confident it was assured the votes of the necessary 75 per cent majority of parliamentarians, the regime decided to go ahead with the vote anyway. The debate was scheduled for yesterday morning.

But it had to be abandoned after demonstrators broke into the national assembly and set it on fire. They also forced national television off air before moving on to gather outside the presidential palace.

Protesters also trashed the home of a government parliamentarian, the hotel where parliamentarians were reportedly lodged before the constitution debate, and the home of the president’s brother François. There have been protests in Bobo Dioulasso, the country’s second city too, while in Fada Ngourma protesters had already looted the office of the ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) earlier in the week.

While loyalist security forces such as the presidential guard tried to resist the protesters – around 30 of whom were killed – some army units appear sympathetic to the demonstrators.

experts’ opinions

1. BBC News reported that Burkina Faso is  a poor country even by West African standards, landlocked Burkina Faso has suffered from recurring droughts and, until the 1980s, military coups.

• Economy: Burkina Faso has significant reserves of gold, but cotton is the economic mainstay for many Burkinabes. This industry is vulnerable to changes in world prices and Burkina Faso is a leading cotton producer in sub-Saharan Africa
• Politics: A popular uprising against long-term leader President Blaise Compaore prompted him to flee in 2014. The military has taken charge, angering the opposition which wants civilian rule
• International: Burkina Faso has been involved in the various conflicts of the region. Many citizens who had traditionally worked in Ivory Coast fled after recent instability there
• Burkina Faso has faced domestic and external concern over the state of its economy and human rights, and allegations that it was involved in the smuggling of diamonds by rebels in Sierra Leone.

for more information click in the link
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13072774

 2. Opinion of Estelle Koussoube about Burkina Faso in terms of economic growth and development.
She said that the political history of Burkina Faso has been very unstable until president Campaoré took power in 1987. Since then, the stability has been based on low intensity violence, with bursts of open violence like those of the mutinies of 2011. This “stability” is based on the balance of power between two main “elite” groups, the army and the traditional chiefs. Trade unions, the Catholic Church and Donors also play a role, especially in case of trouble. The political class in power and its

cronies are extracting rents by creating de facto monopolies, which enables them to tame violence, to a certain extent. The paradox is that the Burkinabe economy is growing steadily (GDP per capital grew at an average 1.5 per cent rate since independence), rather smoothly in the medium run – one of the best records in West-Africa. Because of high inequality, this impressive growth is far from inclusive.

for more information click in the link

http://basepub.dauphine.fr/bitstream/handle/123456789/12352/DT%202014-01%20Koussoube%20-Loada%20-%20Nebi%C3%A9%20-%20Raffinot.pdf?sequence=1

Expert's Opinion

One of the organizations that are helping in this problem in Burkina Faso is the UNHCR(United Nation High Commisioner for Refugees, and they tell that:

We will continue to provide protection and multi-sectoral assistance to, and promote the self-reliance of, refugees. Conditions permitting, the organization will support Malian refugees in Burkina Faso willing to return home and use resettlement as both a protection tool and durable solution for the most vulnerable. UNHCR will ensure delivery of health services in refugee camps, strengthening reproductive health, HIV and AIDS services, and health referrals. The organization aims to ensure that at least 5,000 refugee children are enrolled in quality primary education in 2015. The construction of durable transitional shelters and the distribution of shelter materials and tool kits will also be a UNHCR priority in Burkina Faso. If you want to know the condition in the rest of the countries in Africa you can read more here.

Other organization is World Bank that knows how this situation are affecting all the people in Burkina Faso and Africa in general, they do a investigacion of how can improve some aspects that are critical in all the Countries but, they tell that the situation in Burkina will be cyclical for many years that complicate the posible solutions, here we have the article that have surveys, opinions, many aspects, etc.

To summarize the organization interested in Africa are aware that the situation in this Continent are complicate and will need some help to pass it but trust that why some invertions, and why changes in the goverment all of the problems will be things of the past.