Official launch of PAGE Initiative in Burkina Faso and Senegal

In response to requests by governments of Burkina Faso and Senegal, the ILO, UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO and UNITAR jointly launched PAGE in the two countries in view of supporting national efforts to transition to greener economies.

News | 10 June 2014
Burkina Faso welcomed a joint inception mission by representatives of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Program for Environment (UNEP), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the United Nations Program for Development (UNDP), from 28 to 30 June 2014. Intensive consultations were held with various parts of governments, including, environment and sustainable development, economy and finance, industry, employment as well as social partners, academia and development agencies.


Working at the policy and strategic levels, PAGE in Burkina Faso will support government policy objectives under the Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Sustainable Development (SCADD) and the National Policy on Sustainable Development. It builds on work undertaken through the UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative (PEI) and a recently launched SWITCH Africa Green programme, which all address complementary dimensions of stimulating green investments and policy reforms to deliver sustainable growth, job creation and poverty eradication. Mr. Salif Ouedraogo, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development stressed the importance of translating the notion of green economy into transformational and operational change in key areas of the economy and society in Burkina Faso. PAGE joint actions in Burkina Faso by the five agencies will also seek to pave the way in the perspective of Burkina Faso becoming a United Nations “Delivering as One” country for the next UNDAF cycle 2016-2020.


In Senegal, the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development Mr. Mor N’gom officially launched the PAGE partnership on the occasion of the World Environment Day on June 5, in presence of representatives of PAGE agencies. The partnership will operate within the framework of the “Plan Senegal Emergent” (PSE), the country’s development framework for 2014-2024. Consultations held with representatives of government; the economic, social and environmental council; social partners and bilateral donor agencies pointed to areas of critical importance for PAGE to deliver, including on enabling conditions for job creation for the youth.

PAGE partners aim to contribute to the implementation of a national programme on green jobs, promote green industrialisation and institutional capacity building on green economy through a hub of knowledge institutions as well as the network of SIYB (start and improve your business) trainers in Senegal. The UN Resident Coordinator in Senegal welcomed the initiative as an effective collaborative programme to advance sustainable development in Senegal.