NDI Director Honored in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso has awarded its highest national honor to Aminata Kassé, NDI senior resident director in the west African country. The National Order (l'Ordre National), which recognizes personal merit and eminent service to the country, was bestowed on Kassé on Dec. 10 in recognition of her contribution over the past seven years to the people of Burkina Faso, and especially to the country's women leaders and activists. The award was presented by Burkina Faso's president, Blaise Compaore.

When Kassé opened NDI's office in Ouagadougou in 2004, it was to oversee what was expected to be a six-month program. Prospects for future funding were low and it was expected that the restrictive political environment would make it difficult for pro-democracy activists to participate in NDI activities.

Today, seven years later, former program participants are playing lead roles in their respective communities. A former NDI staff member is the Minister of Women Affairs, and NDI’s grant from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) for a multi-year women in politics project is the largest of its kind the Institute has received globally. "None of this could have happened without Aminata's leadership and dynamism," said Chris Fomunyoh, NDI senior associate and regional director for Central and West Africa.

"[Kassé] demonstrates by example the power of women's leadership. This recognition was long overdue."

- Nestorine Sangare, minister of women's affairs

At a reception following the award ceremony, the Minister of Women Affairs, Nestorine Sangare, thanked Kassé for her leadership and ability to empower people around her. "You have demonstrated by example the power of women's leadership. This recognition was long overdue," the minister said.

Kassé is a former member of parliament in her native Senegal, having served twice as a local councilor prior to that. She was president of the Senegalese Council of Women, a nonprofit organization with nationwide coverage, from 1998 to 2004.

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Published Dec. 15, 2011