As part of the “Programme d’actions structurées des acteurs de la Lutte contre la Désertification” (PASS-LCD), CARI and its partners wish to highlight the women and men working daily to promote agroecology in the Sahel. These spokespersons for agroecology carry out advocacy work at different levels (national, regional, local) and work with local populations to encourage the emergence of agroecological practices and demonstrate their relevance in the fight against desertification.
Discover the first portraits of the Spokespeople for Agroecology, produced during the Regional Meeting on Agroecological Intensification held in Senegal from 11 to 13 September 2024.
Sayouba Bonkoungou, a key player in the agro-ecological transition in Burkina Faso
An agronomist and geographer by training, Sayouba BONKOUNGOU is a key player in the agro-ecological transition in Burkina Faso. With a BTS in agronomy, a DEUG 2 in geography and a degree in agricultural water management and control, he has developed proven expertise in sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.
This man of many hats founded the Association pour la Protection de l’Environnement et du Développement Rural (APEDR) in 2008 with a few friends from his studies. Its aim is to improve the living conditions of rural populations through the sustainable management of natural resources, environmental protection and local capacity building. In September 2024, APEDR and the Coordination Nationale des Associations de la Veille Citoyenne de Yako (CNAVC) supervised a reforestation operation in the province of Passoré. Fruit trees such as mango, guava and lemon were planted to restore degraded land and improve local biodiversity. By encouraging these actions, Sayouba is living up to his belief that “restoring the earth is restoring life”.
Elected President of the Conseil National de l’Agriculture Biologique (CNABio) in July 2024, he hopes that his term of office will be an opportunity to strengthen the synergy between the players in the agricultural sector and to promote the CNABio’s actions at national, sub-regional and international level.
Sayouba BONKOUNGOU was also a member of the Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT), where he was secretary to the Sustainable Development Committee (CDD). This role enabled him to integrate environmental issues into national debates on sustainable development.
Convinced that “agro-ecology is the agriculture of tomorrow”, Sayouba actively campaigns to restore the land and preserve biodiversity. At the regional meeting on agroecology organised by CARI and ENDA Pronat in Dakar, he said: “I enjoyed meeting a very committed farmer who combines several agroecological practices in his production plot. We exchanged our knowledge, and he offered me cowpea and small millet seeds, and I would like to send him seeds from our region. (…) Everything we have had to do and share here confirms our common vision of boosting agroecology in our different countries. What I take away from this meeting is a unifying initiative that could galvanise things.
Finally, Sayouba BONKOUNGOU is also a fervent defender of the empowerment of women in rural areas. At the Salon International de l’Arbre in July 2024, he highlighted APEDR’s experience in developing non-timber forest products and reclaiming degraded land, while stressing the importance of income-generating activities (IGAs) for women. These initiatives, which include the popularisation of improved three-stone stoves, the processing of non-timber forest products (néré grains into “soumbala”, shea butter) and winter onion cultivation, aim to strengthen women’s economic autonomy, while preserving natural resources.
