Strategi Focus Areas

 3.1 Democracy, human rights and good governance

Denmark will encourage the building of resilient public institutions and support to civil society organisations in order to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law as important elements in ensuring stability and good governance. Danish contribution to human rights promotion will feature prominently in discussions with partner institutions. In addition to supporting strengthening of the state’ capacity to promote and protect human rights, support for access to credible and efficient justice will be reinforced. Denmark will contribute to giving civil society “a voice” and promoting domestic accountability through support to civil society organisa¬tions working with various types of advocacy, including the promotion of public financial management transparency, social safety nets, and the fight against corruption. Decentralisation will be supported through reforms in the sectors of cooperation, including water, agriculture, education and good govern¬ance and support for delivery of key services.

By providing a significant level of budget support Denmark makes available resources for the Government to imple¬ment its own development strategy and by combining this with support for governance and strengthening of civil society strengthens the country’s capacity to implement this strategy in an open and effective manner.

 

Through all of its instruments and partnerships, Denmark will work to contribute to the following results: Rights based approaches and social safety nets are promoted and recognized as an element of political reforms.    The awareness of, respect for, and protection of human rights, democratic and justice institutions in Burkina Faso is bolstered. Civil society is strengthened and better able to take on an active role in consolidating the democracy and the fight against corruption in Burkina Faso.   The demand as well as the supply side of the on-going decentralisation process is strengthened and decentralisation and inclusive participation is both deepened and expanded. Indicators: Protection and promotion of human rights, democratic processes and decentralisation is improved through Danish support to state institutions as well as to civil society organisations. An advisory service for civil society organisations is created, with a mandate to facilitate networking, funding and training of civil society organisations.

3.2. Stability and security

Denmark will stimulate the evidence-base needed, e.g. in the form of studies, for a successful implementation of the EU-Sahel strategy on security and development. This includes promoting that activities carried out in Burkina Faso under the EU-Sahel strategy have African ownership and are, for the most part, African-led. Denmark will work for this within the EU and through its contacts with both national governments and regional organisations such as ECOWAS. Complementary to the EU-Sahel strategy Denmark will implement its bilateral Sahel Initiative and further strengthen its engagement in the region in terms of conflict resolution, security sector reform and prevention of extremism and radicalisation.

Furthermore through its support for economic development and provision of key social services in fragile and potentially insecure areas Denmark will help reduce social tension.

Through all of its instruments and partnerships, Denmark will work to contribute to the following results: An African led process successfully pursues the EU-Sahel strategy objective of security and development, i.e. countering radicalization and recruitment for crime and  terrorist networks in Burkina Faso. Implementation of the Danish Sahel initiative in co-operation with the countries of the region and regional organisations. Increased stability and security in Burkina Faso through security sector reforms and prevention of extremism and radicalisation. Indicators: Follow-up on the recommendations of a Danish supported Human Rights and Security study conducted in the Sahel-region of Burkina Faso providing: (a) Information on security threats and the effects on the promotion and protection of human rights in these areas;  (b) Recommendations regarding the peace and stability, security, and development situation. Follow-up on the recommendations of a Danish supported study of Human Rights and Security the Sahel-region of Burkina Faso providing: recommendations regarding the peace and stability, security, and development situation. Coalition of security experts and police training sustained. Support to minimum 5 civil society organisations to raise awareness around security, conflict resolution mechanism and wider governance and development issues of importance to ensure stability.

3.3 Agriculture sector led employment and green growth

Denmark will strengthen an agricultural sector led employment and growth by boosting the growth potential at strategic levels in the sector. Based on the value chain approach, Denmark will strengthen inclusive growth and employment, by helping promote value-adding and job-creating private sector growth, as well as encouraging partnership between Danish and Burkinabe enterprises.
Within the National Plan for Rural Develop¬ment in Burkina Faso and within five selected value chains (maize, cow peas, meat/livestock, shea nuts and Gum Arabica), Denmark will contribute to:

i. strengthening of private sector operators – including consolidation of the enabling environment for private sector growth, support to private sector advisory services, technical assistance, credit, and support to a better organisation of producers and transformers in order for them to have an increased influence on their living and working conditions.

ii. strategic investments in public sector infrastructure and framework conditions – including investments in the enabling environment for doing business, and support at policy level to the National Plan for Rural Development. Criteria used for identifying the selected value chains include: food security, poverty reduction in some of the most poverty and security fragile regions, increased employment opportunities for women, youth, poor small-scale farmers, and increased possibilities for implementation of green growth technologies.

Denmark will stimulate inclusive green growth through encouraging mainstreaming of environment- and climate change issues. The assistance will include attention paid to the macroeconomic case of green growth, direct investments in systems to measure (also in monetary terms) environmental impacts, as well as support to financial incentives to encourage green growth and discourage harmful activities. Denmark will within its support to the water and sanitation sector finance integrated water resource management. A key element will be to encourage development and deployment of new and existing water-saving technologies in order to secure water resources for both drinking water purposes and productive uses more effectively. Integrated water resources management will also provide the tools to ensure efficient management of water resources in light of increased rainfall variability and rapidly worsening pollution from the mining sector.

Denmark will strengthen the synergies between development cooperation and commercial investments in Burkina Faso. The commercial relations between Denmark and Burkina Faso have so far been relatively limited, but training and technology transfer for green growth in Burkina Faso within areas like renewable energy, water management, livestock management, climate change adaptation, agriculture and agro-industries are potential up-coming commercial markets that Denmark is well placed to enter.

Through all of its instruments and partnerships, Denmark will work to contribute to the following results: Stimulation of sustainable growth and employment in the agricultural sector through strengthening of 5 key agricultural value chains – including special focus on the  Northern regions to provide development opportunities and thereby bolster defence against AQIM infiltration. The identified value chains include: maize, cow peas,  meat/livestock, shea nuts and Gum Arabica. Improved enabling environment for rural entrepreneurship especially in the “growth-layer” consisting of small- and medium scale private sector enterprises. Establishment of public sector infrastructure and market access for produce from poor small-scale farmers and women farmers in particular. A strong green growth element in the implementation of the national strategy for accelerated growth and sustainable development (SCADD) at all levels from, i.e.  macro-economic policy dialogue to green growth elements in education programmes. Improved integrated water resource management in the five water basins of Burkina Faso and introduction of innovative water-saving technologies. Increased use of green approaches and technologies in the priority sectors for Danish support: Agriculture and water.  Establishment of a network between Danish and Burkina Faso based companies specialised in green technologies. Indicators: Five key value chains are boosted through private investments in production, through processing and commercialisation of agricultural products, public investments in relevant infrastructure and enabling business frameworks. Approx. 10.000 enterprises will benefit from advisory services. At least 200 communal facilities will be financed, such as marked places, vaccination centres, pastoral zones, livestock passages, irrigation schemes, watering facility for livestock, rural access roads, etc. Water and energy saving technologies financed under the Danish supported water and the agriculture sector programmes. Payment system for raw water abstraction implemented and payments regularly collected for major user groups, i.e. agriculture and mining. Continued extension of water supply and sanitation facilities through local authorities according to the national strategies of Burkina Faso.

3.4 Gender equality

Denmark will support gender equality – including attention paid to the role of women as well as men, through: (a) the promotion of gender equality mainstreaming at all levels of government and civil society actions with special attention paid to violence against women; (b) support to targeted policy interventions of the government of Burkina Faso’s in terms of: promotion of education for girls and women; strengthening of women’s rights; establishment of a national fund for female entrepreneurs; improving women’s access to productive resources (including access to land); and adoption of economic policies and strategies to improve the livelihoods of the poorest women in Burkina Faso; and (c) strengthening of non-governmental interventions, including support to civil society organisations promoting the rights of women and gender equality.

Targeted support will be given to public and civil society organisations which work to eradicate violence against women and Female Genital Mutilation.
Through its support to agricultural sector led employment and growth, Denmark will target agriculture value-chains in which women are especially active and which provide opportunities for increasing revenue and employment for women. Through support to the water and sanitation sector, Denmark will promote women’s access to water for household and productive use, and women’s participation in decisions concerning water resource management. 

Through all of its instruments and partnerships, Denmark will work to contribute to the following results: Reduced all forms of violence against women including early marriages, forced marriages, rape and sexual harassment.  Efficient and coordinated support to the implementation of the National Gender Policy. Improved access for women to land, revenue, employment, productive resources, sexual and reproductive health services and respect for their rights. Strengthened civil society role in changing practices and beliefs that lead to gender inequality. Decrease in the percentage of girls and young women subjected to Female Genital Mutilation. Indicators: At least ten (10) Civil Society Organisations are each year benefiting from support under a joint donor basked fund to implement projects and programmes aiming at reducing gender inequalities and violence against women such as Female Genital Mutilation, rape and forced marriages. Increased access to sexual and reproductive health services and increased use of contraceptives. Income generating activities created for 10.000 women within the selected agricultural value chains under the Danish support to the agricultural sector.