Opened in 2000, the Village Artisanal de Ouagadougou (VAO) was designed to increase trade in handicrafts by ensuring that Burkina Faso’s estimated one million craftsmen and women have a venue to showcase their work all year round.
The "Village" is jointly managed by the Burkina Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts and the Luxembourg Agency for Development Cooperation. It provides a forum for 300 craftsmen and women working in 25 different trades to feature their brand of artistry.
Through its Grassroots Business Initiative (GBI), the International Finance Cooperation (IFC) is assisting the VAO to establish a reputation as craft center of excellence. The initiative provides Burkinaian artisans with a centralized location conducive to healthy entrepreneurial activity, while equipping them with the business skills and access to markets that will generate sustained income for the economic development of their communities.
Areas of Assistance
GBI is working closely with the VAO to streamline its operations and maximize profitability. To this end, GBI is providing the following:
grant funding to ensure efficient management of the facility and access to business development and marketing training to increase the production capacity of the artisans
access to an international retail market for the VAO's artisans by selling their merchandise through the Pangea Artisan Market and Cafe located at the IFC headquarters located in downtown Washington DC. Potential customers have the option to visit the store, or go online through www.pangeamarket.com
Find out more from: www.burkinacrafts.com
Learn more about VAO's products at Pangea Artisan Market & Cafe
