Burkina Faso was occupied by France between 1896 and 1901 and since then it was part of the French West Africa. It achieved independence in 1960 with the name of Upper Volta, maintained until 1984, when President Sankara adopted the name Burkina Faso or “Home of real men”.
Sankara launched numerous social reforms that improved the conditions in the country, becoming an inspiring figure for all of Africa. After his death in 1987, Blaise Compaoré became President and remained in power until 2014. The country has had a period of political stability hitherto unknown, which has allowed openness to foreign investment and the adoption of measures to privatize and liberalize the economy. Nonetheless, over the years the discontent for the dictatorial regime has grown. In 2014, hard popular reactions took place against a constitutional reform project that would allow Compaoré to further extend its mandate. Compaoré resigned and announced the formation of a transitional government led by Kafando. In September 2015, after further postponements of the election consultations, Kafando was taken prisoner by the presidential guard, who remained loyal to Compaoré. The coup attempt failed and in the same month Kafando returned to his position. The presidential elections, held in November, recorded the victory of R.M. Kaboré, of the Popular Movement for Progress.
Mani Tese is in Burkina Faso since the 1980s and was registered in 1985.
The main sector of intervention in the country is food sovereignty for the benefit of small farmers organized in Unions, Associations and Cooperatives. It is declined through the promotion of agroecology and peasant associations and develops with the following dynamics:
The environmental sector, complementary to that of food sovereignty, involves the use of renewable energies, in particular solar energy, and innovative techniques for the conservation and transformation of products.
Another area of intervention is that relating to migration, with actions involving the Associations of the diaspora of Burkina Faso in Italy.
A transversal component of all interventions is support for the female component and its social and economic role in the communities to which it belongs.
The priority areas of intervention are the province of Boulkiemdé, in the Center-West region, the Municipality of Loumbilà (province of Oubritenga, a Plateau Central region) and the capital Ouagadougou, for the marketing of the products.
