AU SAFGRAD has successfully participated in Gaoua to a workshop organized, from February 27 to 28, 2014, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of Burkina Faso. The city of Gaoua, capital city of Province du Poni, Région du Sud-Ouest in Burkina Faso, is 400 kms approximately distant from Ouagadougou.
During the two-day workshop attended by the main African Integration Organizations in Burkina Faso such as ECOWAS and UEMOA, AU SAFGRAD made a successful and well appreciated presentation to an audience composed by several stakeholders (Youth Associations, Farmers groups, Journalists, Businessmen, Women Associations, Customs Agents, Policemen, etc.). Au SAFGRAD presentation made on the second day by the Senior Communication Officer focused on the mandate, main achievements and new Strategic Plan. Following this presentation, many questions regarding activities of the African Union technical and specialized office were raised by the participants. Useful elements of understanding to the relevant issues were provided to the audience by the presenter.
This activity is an information and sensitization strategy targeting the general public and specific stakeholders on various issues regarding African regional integration. Both the opening and the closing ceremonies were chaired by the Burkina Faso Delegate Minister of Regional Cooperation with the presence of local Authorities. A set of similar workshops targeting the other main areas of the country is already planned. It appears as an unique opportunity to make the African Integration organizations more visible and understood by the populations notably at grassroots level.
