As a key contributor to the project, a delegation from the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) joined President Roch Marc Christian Kabore of Burkina Faso and regional donor organizations to inaugurate the new USD $130 million Samendini Dam.
Located in the Samendini Valley,350km from the capital city, the dam will enhance food security and agriculture production in the draught affected region.
Funded by the SFD and other Arab and African lending partners, the new dam will benefit approximately 250,000 farmers and residents through the irrigation and reclamation of over 1500 hectares of new agricultural land, which is set to increase to 23,000 hectares in the final stages of this integral development project.
It will also facilitate access to cleaner, affordable power through a Hydro-Powered Generator that will produce 2.6MW of electricity, helping residents from the region.
Commenting about the event, Mr. Mohammed Al Jenaidel, Senior Advisor to SFD said: “We are proud to have taken part in a project that will help eradicate poverty and bring life changing benefits to the people of Burkina Faso, where we have been actively involved in since 1975. Coming from a desert nation, we understand that water is the most important of nature’s resources, and we are committed to supporting water resource management projects in drought affected regions of the world.”
During their visit to Burkina Faso, the SFD delegation participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of the 200-bed Manga Hospital, which was recipient of a loan contribution from the Fund.
The hospital is the first primary healthcare facility in the region and construction began on December 1, 2019.
The SFD is one of West Africa’s largest contributors to sustainable development aid, promoting stability and prosperity in the Sahel region since 1975.
The SFD has contributed financial and technical assistance to a total of 12 rural development and infrastructure projects in Burkina Faso in keeping with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and its goals of building prosperity and providing socio-economic support to developing nations in the region.
