Burkina Faso

Mrs. NACRO is a disabled woman who, for her own, and her family’s fulfilment, decided to carry out income-generating activities, including crafts and catering. This was marked by several challenges, including stigmatisation. Realising that this phenomenon affects many women in the same situation as her, she committed herself to supporting and accompanying those sisters and daughters with disabilities like her, to ensure they would be valued. As President of the AFHBB, she represents the structure in front of all partners, takes part in meetings and fights for gender to be included in all government actions.

Madame ZAMPALIGRE Fatimata was born in LEDA, in the Boulgou province, in the Centre Est region. She spent part of her childhood in Burkina Faso, but didn't have the chance to continue her studies as she left school in the fourth grade. Her father took her to the Ivory Coast, before she returned to Burkina to live with her uncle and get married. Today, she is the mother of four children and fights to ensure that all those who, like her, were not fortunate enough to go to school can read and write in the local language, because for her, literacy is the key to enabling each individual to evolve. She became president of APFG in 2020 after several years with the association, as a literacy facilitator in the Bissa language. Thanks to the activities of Voix Essentielle, she became a member of the Garango women's association coordination. With her sixteen (16) years' experience in literacy, she leads the partnership with FONAENF and works on the Voix Essentielles project, where she coordinates all field activities.

Nadine NIKIEMA, born February 5, 1981 in Ouagadougou, is a leader committed to education and women's empowerment in Burkina Faso. A certified secondary school teacher, she holds an A4 baccalaureate and a master's degree in Modern Literature.
Head of a post-primary and secondary school from 2017 to 2024, she initiated major actions to help girls succeed in school and prevent early and unwanted pregnancies. President of the Association Aucune Grossesse en Milieu Scolaire (AGMS) since 2016, she leads impact projects in favor of girls' and women's rights, the sexual and reproductive health of young people and adolescents, and the fight against gender-based violence.

A committed entrepreneur, she is the founder of three simplified cooperative companies specializing in the production and processing of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), contributing to the empowerment of women and the economic development of south-central Burkina Faso. Her leadership and commitment make her a key figure in the promotion of women's education and well-being.

Mrs Bibata SINARE is a community animator in reproductive health, vaccination and monitoring of the prenatal and postnatal calendar, malaria, water hygiene and sanitation. She has been working for more than ten years with the Health and Social Promotion Centre of Ziniaré and Ziniaré commune. Her commitment led her to work with women from the community to create the Yikrii Association for women’s well-being and development. Today, as the association’s president, she is responsible for the association’s political management.

Farida Sonia TIEMTORE is a lawyer, blogger committed to promoting women's initiatives, digital project manager and founding President of the Réseau des Héroïnes du Faso, a community-based organization dedicated to defending the rights of girls and women. For over eight years, she has been an active campaigner for gender equality and improved public health in Africa, particularly in Burkina Faso.

Through her blog www.lesheroinesdufaso.com , she writes articles to inform and raise awareness on gender equality, health, leadership and civic participation. Through her association, she works for a world where every girl and woman, without distinction, can participate in decision-making processes, develop fully and enjoy their fundamental rights.

Her commitment enabled her to join the Youth Council of the Global Fund to Fight Malaria, HIV and Tuberculosis in 2024. Moreover, in 2023 she was honored to receive the Speak Up Africa Leadership Award, a distinction that celebrates individuals and organizations demonstrating exemplary leadership in the public health sector and having a positive impact on sustainable development in Africa.

Sawadogo Saïbata is an English teacher by profession and a community actress by passion. I have a Bac +5.
She has been involved in the community since high school in 2000, when she was elected girl leader of the RAJS/Sanmatenga anti-AIDS club. This commitment continued at the University of Ouagadougou, and in 2011 I took part in the YALI (Young African Leaders' Initiative), a leadership program run by the former President of the United States, Barack Obama.
After becoming an English teacher, in collaboration with a group of committed women from different socio-professional backgrounds, she created AFESS, which in 2021 became AFESSD_BF. Before becoming president in 2021, she was in charge of training women/girls and young people in personal development, female leadership and entrepreneurship. In addition to AFESSD, she was Secretary General of RAJS Sanmatenga, general coordinator of DIAFASUD, training officer of RAD/ CN /( Réseau des associations de Développement), focal point ABURWA etc.....
Since 2017, given the suffering of women/girls and children due to the security situation, she has become more committed to promoting and protecting the rights of these vulnerable groups.

Bénédicte BAILOU is a committed lawyer and feminist activist, founder and Executive Director of the Mouvement Citoyen FEMIN-IN, which works to defend and promote women's rights in Burkina Faso. As a consultant on gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive rights, she conducts studies on public policy and accompanies survivors of GBV. Appointed deputy to represent women's civil society organizations in Burkina Faso's Transitional Legislative Assembly, she is also a member of the Gender, Social Action and Humanitarian Commission, where she holds the position of second secretary. With a vision focused on citizen participation, education and health, Bénédicte BAILOU is a fervent advocate of transparency and women's participation in decision-making processes, contributing to the advancement of women's rights in her country.

Ms. SAVADOGO was first a supervisor of farmers' organizations in the Yatenga agro-ecology project (PAE) for 13 years, before the association was created. At the time of the association's creation, she was in charge of organizing herders' and farmers' groups for the Nouhao valley development project, where she worked for seven (7) years. She has always enjoyed working for the community with the community, hence the creation of AVORB. Voix EssentiELLES' support for women's leadership and the involvement of women and girls in decision-making bodies enabled her to join the Bittou commune special delegation as a member in 2022. She is currently President of the General Affairs Commission.

A sociable person with a passion for culture, she also joined the provincial office of CSOs in the Boulgou province, where she was responsible for women on the Comité de veille citoyenne du secteur numéro 2 de la commune de Bittou. She is currently the first commissioner of the Voix Essentielle network in Burkina Faso.

Mme WETTA née ABEM KADOUA is the coordinator of the Association des Jeunes Femmes du Nahouri (AJFN). She is forty-three (43) years old, married and the mother of two (2) children. With several training courses to her credit since 2003 in the associative field, she gleaned attestations and certificates in business management, social cohesion, human rights and capacity building. Equipped with these skills, she has succeeded in carrying out her battle in the field.

She is also a radio host at Radio Goulou de Po, where she hosts interactive programs and round-table discussions on the well-being of women and their children.
She took part in the 2023 Africa mousso competition for women fighters in Burkina Faso, coming 3rd out of 500 entrants.
Since 2021, she has had the honor of being awarded a medal by the local authorities.

Ms. NANA Pauline, an auxiliary midwife, felt challenged by the suffering of women during childbirth. In addition, the phenomenon of abandoned children and orphans, which she had witnessed on several occasions, gave rise to a need for her to contribute to the protection and well-being of children in Burkina Faso.

She will be working at the "Cité des Enfants de Boulsa" reception center for children in distress, as the director appointed by the NGO AMI, so that she can fully exercise her vocation to help and supervise young children. Ms. NANA was awarded the status of Woman Leader by her managers in recognition of her achievements.
In 2013, she decided to set up an association in the Saaba commune where she was born. This is the Association Soutien aux Enfants et Femmes Vulnérables (ASEFV), of which she is president. Her aim is to help care for vulnerable children and promote women's rights and empowerment.

She then had the idea of associating it with a reception center for children in distress to maximize the impact in favor of children at risk, and also in a bid to look after them properly. The association Soutien aux enfants et femmes vulnérable will receive from the hands of the president, a decoration later in 2017 as a Knight of the Burkinabe Order of Merit.
Ms. NANA Pauline is a very committed woman at the service of the community. She will be elected in 2018 as Coordinator of women's organizations in the Saaba commune, President of the Saaba Communal Electoral Commission (CECI) in 2020 and also a member of the Saaba special delegation in 2022. Strategic positions in which she intends to step up her actions for the protection, promotion and empowerment of women and vulnerable people.

An activist committed to the fight against HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence (GBV) in Burkina Faso. My career in the field of health and women's rights is remarkable and illustrates my dedication to the community.

My commitment extends beyond the fight against HIV/AIDS, providing technical assistance to several organizations involved in the Global Fund process in Burkina Faso. I have also contributed to actions to combat GBV, including training opinion leaders, training women in female entrepreneurship, raising awareness of GBV prevention, supporting the empowerment of women and girls, and community watch.

I continue to work actively to improve the health and rights of women and girls in Burkina Faso.
I have acquired essential skills through my certifications in teaching skills, GBV prevention and care, monitoring and evaluation, project management and human nutrition and dietetics.

OUEDRAOGO Sakinatou, president of the Association pour la défense des droits des aides ménagères et domestiques (ADDAD Burkina), was born on May 29, 1995 in Ouagadougou. She had a very difficult school career due to lack of financial means. At the age of 09, she decided to work as a domestic in very precarious conditions, which led to a very painful journey. The desire to share her experience with other domestic workers led to the creation of a tontine.

Following this meeting through the tontine, the desire to make their voices heard and claim their rights, which have always been scorned, led to the creation of the Association des droits des aides ménagères et domestiques in 2012, of which she has been president since 2018. Currently married with two children, this doesn't stop her from continuing to defend and advocate for a specific status for domestic helpers and domestic workers.

TIENDREBEOGO /OUEDRAOGO Aïcha is a passionate activist born on July 20, 1985 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. She has dedicated her professional life to fighting gender-based violence (GBV), the 3 diseases (TB/HIV) and malaria in her community, and is renowned for her unwavering commitment to gender equality and women's rights.

Since 2024, her commitment has enabled her to join the National Coalition to Combat Child Marriage in Burkina Faso (CONAMEB). In this coalition, she is in charge of communication and advocacy in the coordination office.
Her projects have also focused on promoting women's economic empowerment and access to sexual and reproductive health services. Her work has improved the lives of many vulnerable women in Burkina Faso. Thanks to her unwavering commitment and dedication, Ms TIENDREBEOGO /OUEDRAOGO Aïcha has become a source of inspiration for many people in Burkina Faso. In November 2022, she was honored by her country's highest authorities, making her a Knight of the Order of Merit.

Today, Mrs TIENDREBEOGO /OUEDRAOGO Aïcha continues her fight with determination, constantly seeking new strategies to eradicate gender-based violence in Burkina Faso and the fight against the 3 pathologies. She remains a living example of what perseverance and passion can achieve in the fight for gender equality and women's rights.

SOME Ber Kouo Clarisse is an activist committed to promoting women's rights and gender equality.
For the past 7 years, she has been working with associations to promote women's emancipation and access to land. This association strengthens the skills of its members and other women's structures on certain themes, organizes advocacy and literacy campaigns and raises public awareness. Still determined to advance the cause of women, it continues to recruit young girls and organizes exchanges and experience-sharing with other local structures.

Gloria Nadine KAMBOU is a professional involved in mediation, improving care and community dispensing for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and sex workers in Burkina Faso.

Born on January 14, 1987 in Kaya, KAMBOU GLORIA NADINE spent her childhood in Bobo Dioulasso and later moved to Ouagadougou where she spent the rest of her teenage years. Mother of 2, she holds a degree in PROJECT MANAGEMENT.

She began her associative career in 2015 with the YERELON PLUS association as a peer educator, and in 2020 as a mediator-counsellor until 2022. This year sees the launch of her association called "Association pour la Protection de l'Enfance en Difficulté (APED)", which is in the process of changing its name to "SIGNONTARB", created in 2016 and officially recognized in 2017. Activist since 2016 for the cause of women, young girls without forgetting children and sex workers .

Irène Zoungrana is a communications expert with more than 15 years of experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, where she has held positions as head of communications departments, director of communications consulting agencies, and coordinator of public health communications and advocacy projects. As a project coordinator, she has proven experience in supervising multi-stakeholder teams. An expert in public speaking, she has been facilitating national and international events for governments, NGOs, and private organizations for over 10 years, and has 15 years of expertise in audiovisual production and public communication on issues related to development and health education.

KAM Yéli Céline is a lawyer deeply committed to defending human rights, particularly those of women and girls. She has been involved in the fight against gender-based violence since 2019, where she is recognized as an expert, and has been an active advocate for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) rights since 2021. As the founder of Association KAMY, she works daily to raise awareness, provide training, empower individuals, and support communities in a process of social transformation, with a clear goal: to ensure that the rights of all women and girls are fully recognized, respected, and protected.

W. Cécile Thiombiano/Yougbaré is a lawyer, population and health policy analyst, and expert in international cooperation and humanitarian action. A recognized activist and feminist, she has coordinated programs for the Global Fund and currently works at the headquarters of Médecins du Monde France as an SRH advocacy advisor for Africa. A Knight of the Order of Merit for Health, she is also a member of the Board of Directors of Médecins du Monde France.