Burkina Faso

Update to the Global Board (October 2008). Emphasis on food security, health and education has created extensive progress. Crop yields have increased by 40 percent, over four thousand women and men have been educated in preventative health and 115 literacy centers were opened.

Update to the Global Board (October 2008). Due to unfavorable farming conditions, microfinance partners have faced challenges repaying their loans on time. However, with the help of the epicenter and loan committees, partners have increased their repayment rates by 13 percent.

Among the many accomplishments in 2008, the Zincko Epicenter Committee, in partnership with other organizations, opened 25 literacy centers for 750 partners of whom two-thirds are women.