In furtherance of its efforts to promote girls’ education and empowerment, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) launched the Project, “Educational and Social Support for Displaced and Boarding School Girls” in the Republic of Burkina Faso, in cooperation with the Burkinabe National Commission for UNESCO and with funding from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan
The project aims to provide basic educational resources, counseling and life skills training for girls experiencing displacement and economic hardship in Burkina Faso, in a bid to advance their education and develop the education system in Burkina Faso.

The project was officially launched on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 in the Burkinabe capital Ouagadougou, in the presence of an ICESCO delegation consisting of Dr. Haddy Jatou Sey, Head of the Education Sector, Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Faizah Alaoui, Education Sector Expert in charge of the Project, in addition to high-level Burkinabe officials, education workers, and civil society representatives.

The ceremony featured an overview on the Project and its objectives, namely, improving educational outcomes, providing safe learning space, and equipping girls with leadership and digital skills. It also featured a presentation of the Project’s aspects of support such as building and renovating sanitation facilities in schools, and providing tutoring programs and counseling sessions to empower young girls to overcome challenges and build a brighter future for themselves.

In her address at the opening ceremony, Dr. Haddy Jatou Sey, reiterated ICESCO’s firm commitment to promoting inclusive education and praised the generous support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, stating that the initiative will not only improve academic performance, but will also equip young girls with the skills and confidence to become future leaders.

For his part, Mr. Anar Karimov highlighted the importance of education as a driver of social transformation and sustainable development, explaining that the project seeks to remove barriers to girls’ education by providing safe and inclusive learning environments in the cities of Kaya, Ouahigouya, Gaoua and Banfora. He emphasized the need to ensure the success and sustainability of the Project within the educational policies in Burkina Faso, stressing that an educated girl is a catalyst for change in her community and beyond.

The official opening ceremony was followed by a meeting between the ICESCO delegation and Dr. Zakaria Soré, Secretary General of the Burkina Faso Presidential Office, to discuss the prospects of bilateral cooperation. The two parties expressed their keenness to continue strengthening the strategic partnership in the fields of girls’ education, teacher training, technical and vocational training, and other areas of common interest.