BUBANZA February 21st (ABP) – Women from Bubanza province (north-west of Burundi) are now understanding the importance of working in self-development cooperatives because, with the inception of the Bank for Investment and Development for Women (BIDF), women’s cooperatives have increased from 15 to more than 50 in that province, a check by ABP got informed from the Provincial Office of the Associative and Cooperative Movement.
Of these more than 50 cooperatives already registered with the Provincial Office of the Associative and Cooperative Movement, 30 have already submitted their applications to the Bank for Investment and Development for Women and are awaiting loans. 9 others have already obtained loans there in order to implement their projects. Those women’s cooperatives operate, above all, in farming, handicrafts, trade and others, the same information source specifies.
The head of the provincial office of the Associative and Cooperative Movement, Mr. Édouard Nzambimana, says he is satisfied to see the women who have already understood the importance of working in self-development cooperatives. This is because, he continues to say, before the existence of the Investment and Development Bank for Women, women’s cooperatives did not exceed 15 in the whole province. And with the inception of this bank, he pointed out, between 8 and 10 women’s cooperatives approach that office every week to seek advice in relation to their organization, the setting up and management of their projects.
Mr. Nzambimana took the opportunity to invite the administrative officials to strengthen the awareness of women on the organization and membership in self-development cooperatives, in various meetings. And to the cooperatives, he said that the Provincial Office of the Associative and Cooperative Movement is there to help them.