In response to requests by the 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.
Burkina Faso welcomed a joint inception mission in June 2014 by representatives of all five PAGE organizing partners (ILO, UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, UNITAR). Working at the policy and strategic levels, with various government departments, social partners and development agencies, 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 already 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. PAGE actions in Burkina Faso will also seek to pave the way for Burkina Faso to become a United Nations “Delivering as One” country in the coming years. Mr. Salif Ouedraogo, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, stressed the importance of turning the notion of green economy into transformational and operational change in key areas of the economy and society in Burkina Faso.
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 the 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. PAGE partners aim to contribute to the implementation of a national programme on green jobs, promote green industrialization 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.