Present at the premises of the Intervention Fund for the Environment (FIE) this Tuesday, October 24, 2018 on the occasion of an unannounced visit, the Minister of the Environment, the Green Economy and Climate Change gave his assessment of the operation of this financial institution. The remarks after Batio Bassière's visit were collected by the Directorate of Communication and Public Relations (DCRP) of the FIE.
DCRP: Minister, with what feelings do you leave the FIE after this visit?
Minister Batio Bassière (MBB): I arrived this morning at the FIE visit and I did not inform the Director General of my coming. The goal is to realize the effectiveness of the service. I could see that the Director General is in place, I could have discussions with him on his vision of organization of operation. I also visited a number of offices and talked with agents. They are in place and they work. This would mean that the service works. I believe that it is visits that will have to be made permanent so that people realize that the Minister is the one who coordinates all the activities of the Department, but from time to time, he must be aware of the effectiveness of the operation of the services. I leave here satisfied to the extent that everyone is at his workstation and works to achieve the objectives of the Fund. This instrument is for me as for the Government, a tool for financing environmental issues. Today our goal is to be able to accredit it to the Green Climate Fund so that it can directly mobilize resources for the country. So it's an important tool in government policy, so we came this morning to see how things are moving forward.
DCRP: There are many ongoing projects at the FIE level. What are the reasons for satisfaction on this subject for the Head of Department that you are?
MBB: First of all, my wish is for the Fund to work well. For that, it is necessary that all the structures are in place, which was not easy when I took office with the actors. Today, we are seeing progress. A number of concerns had been raised by the partners, an audit was carried out and recommendations were submitted to the DG and from him, of course, to the Ministry. I'm glad that at restitution most of the time, most of these concerns have come up with solutions and others are finding ways to find them. So for me, we have taken an important step. The other step is to consolidate the achievements and see how to really give this Fund, the means to achieve the objectives desired by the Government. By the way, I would like to say that at the level of the sub-region, when we are in discussions with other colleagues from other countries, they want to take inspiration from the case of Burkina through the FIE which is a tool for funding. We believe that the environment no longer has the vision of the past and that the environment can finance the environment. Through the sector, we can mobilize resources not just for the Ministry of the Environment but for all departments that are committed to sustainable development. The FIE is a common fund for Burkina.
DCRP: The way to get there may be long. What does the Minister of Environment expect from the FIE?
MBB: You know that there are many concerns and the state is limited but I believe that with the little we have, we must already congratulate those in charge of leading the process of setting up the FIE. As the first head of the department, it is to tell him to continue to persevere in this direction and to bring the difficulties he will meet to the knowledge of the department so that together we try to find appropriate solutions. I want this because I do not wish in any way that the Fund has any operational difficulties or that for one reason or another, it stops working. I remember that at the beginning, the question of the FIE was not perceived in the same way by all the actors even at the level of the Government but today, we speak with the same voice because we Really realized that it is a financing tool for sustainable development projects.
DCRP FIE
