Ouagadougou, June 9, 2026 – In preparation for the launch of the second phase of the “Women’s Economic Empowerment through Innovation and Access to Intellectual Property (AFPI)” project, the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Burkina Faso have formalized their partnership with the aim of empowering women, entrepreneurs, innovators and young talent ready to transform their ideas into concrete opportunities.
Around the table, Denis L. BOHOUSSOU, Director General of OAPI, and Yves SASSENRATH, Resident Representative of UNFPA Burkina Faso, proceeded to the official signing of a memorandum of understanding marking the common desire to build their cooperation around a strong conviction: innovation, when supported and protected, can become a powerful lever for empowerment and economic growth.
A strategic partnership serving women and innovation
Following an initial phase launched in Yaoundé on August 5, 2025, with UNFPA Cameroon, this memorandum of understanding marks the beginning of a new chapter for OAPI in its collaboration with UNFPA in Burkina Faso. Through this partnership, the two institutions commit to implementing concrete actions aimed at:
•strengthen women's capacities in intellectual property;
• supporting women entrepreneurs, particularly in the agribusiness sector;
•to raise awareness among young girls and women working in technical and technological fields;
• to promote technology transfer and the commercialization of innovations.
The objective is clear: beyond ideas, it is about building pathways, strengthening confidence and opening up sustainable economic prospects by enabling these women to access opportunities to enhance their creations and grow their businesses.
The AFPI project enters its second phase in Burkina Faso
Following the signing of this protocol, a ceremony marking the official launch of the second phase of the AFPI project in Burkina Faso was held under the chairmanship of the Minister of Mines, Energy and Quarries, Yacouba Zabré GOUBA - Representing the Minister in charge of industrial development, trade, crafts and small and medium enterprises, alongside key players, including the Director General of OAPI and the Resident Representative of UNFPA Burkina Faso.
Distinct areas of action for deploying a joint mission
In the implementation of the AFPI project,
•UNFPA Burkina Faso works to raise awareness in communities in order to encourage girls and women’s access to scientific and technical fields and professions.
•OAPI, for its part, supports women in protecting their creations and enhancing the value of their intellectual property assets, in particular trademarks and patents, in order to better position themselves in the markets and attract investors.
The convergence of these visions made it possible to formalize the project on the same day, with the first workshop in a series of training sessions for target groups, which will be held until June 12, 2026.
A project in line with national priorities
The AFPI project is fully in line with the Burkinabe government's recovery program, which gives significant importance to productive investment for women and girls.
By promoting innovation and female entrepreneurship, the initiative contributes directly to the inclusive and sustainable economic development of Burkina Faso.
Promising prospects for economic development
Through the signing of this memorandum of understanding and the launch of this second phase, OAPI, UNFPA and the Burkinabe authorities reaffirm their commitment to producing concrete and sustainable results by placing the following at the heart of the action:
• Strengthening female leadership,
• the promotion of gender equality and,
• the creation of commercial value through innovation.
More than just a project, AFPI positions itself as a true catalyst for economic and social transformation, driven by and for women in Burkina Faso.
