SNV staff honoured for contribution to bio-digester sector
On Thursday 4th October 2018, the President of Burkina Faso represented by the Minister of Animal Resources, honoured two SNV staff members for their contribution to the development of the bio-digester sector in Africa.
The decoration ceremony took place during the closing session of the second International Conference on Bio-digester Technology held in Ouagadougou, 2-4 October. One of the main goals of the event was to build on the “Declaration of Ouagadougou”, a multi-country commitment to the promotion and dissemination of bio-digester technologies in West and Central Africa. The Dutch government was represented at the event by Ambassador Jolke Oppewal.
Jean de Matha Ouédraogo, who is currently SNV Country Director in Mali received the "Officer of the National Order of Burkina Faso” award for his continuous efforts in promoting bio-digesters in Burkina Faso and more widely in Africa. From 2009-2013, Jean de Matha acted as SNV nominated director for the Africa Biogas Partnership programme (ABPP) which incorporates Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda. In 2007 he also held the position of project Director in Rwanda, which was one of the first SNV biogas support programme in Africa.
Jean de Matha recieving his award
Jean de Matha and Jan Lam with members of the burkinabè government
Jan Lam, senior advisor for biogas at SNV and technical assistant for the National Bio-digester Programme in Burkina Faso (PNB-BF) since 2012, received the “Knight of the National Order of Burkina Faso” award for his substantial contribution, including a programme to reduce greenhouse gasses through the deployment of bio-digesters in Burkina Faso.
Jean-Marc Sika from our partner organisation the Humanist Institute for Co-operation with Developing Countries (Hivos) was awarded the “knight of the national order”.
With the support of ABPP programme, funded by DGIS and implemented by SNV and Hivos, the National Bio-digester programme in Burkina Faso has facilitated the construction of 12,000 bio-digesters in Burkina Faso to date since 2009, giving over 75,000 people access to clean cooking, lighting and organic fertilizer.
To learn more about this programme, please visit the ABPP programme webpage.