OCADES Caritas Burkina was born out of the desire of the Bishops of Burkina Faso to adapt their social pastoral instrument to the challenges, local and international environment, values and principles of the commitment of the Church Family of God in Burkina Faso for Development and Solidarity. It is involved in human and spiritual, political, financial, social and physical capital in order to promote the well-being and dignity of the human person.
OCADES Caritas Burkina is apolitical and non-profitmaking. It is a national network represented in all 15 dioceses of Burkina Faso and is responsible for leading and supporting human communities in Integral Human Development (IHD). The dioceses of Burkina are members of OCADES Caritas Burkina by right. The diocesan entities and the General Secretariat of OCADES Caritas Burkina enjoy autonomy and act by delegation, according to the principle of subsidiarity.
Our history
The creation of Caritas Burkina dates back to 1961 with the establishment of Caritas Voltaïque. The main stages of its development are as follows:
- 1956: establishment of a delegation of Secours Catholique Caritas France
- 1961: creation of the organisation under the name of Caritas Voltaïque
- 5 February 1998: creation of OCADES Burkina by the Episcopal Conference of Burkina through the merger of Caritas Voltaïque and BEL (Bureau d’Études et de Liaison)
- 25 May 1998: official recognition as a non-profit association through receipt no. 98181MATS/SG/DGAT/DLPAJ of 25 May 1998 issued by the State of Burkina Faso. OCADES is represented in each diocese by a Diocesan Executive Secretariat
- 11 April 2013: Decree No. 2013-256/PRES/PM/MATS/MEF granting the status of Public Utility Association to the Catholic Organisation for Development and Solidarity
Our objectives
The general objective of OCADES Caritas Burkina is to contribute to the integral human development of every human person and all communities in Burkina Faso, in accordance with the values of the Gospel and the guiding principles of the social teaching of the Catholic Church.
The specific objectives of OCADES Caritas Burkina are to:
- promote the integral human development of the most deprived people and the most disadvantaged communities in Burkina Faso
- to spread Christian charity through solidarity and sharing
- to promote responsible management of institutions, initiatives and works of human promotion by the baptised and people of good will
Our missions
To achieve its objectives, OCADES Caritas Burkina has set itself the following missions:
- to support and coordinate all initiatives for the integral development of individuals and communities
- to encourage initiatives and develop strategies for responsible intervention in social pastoral activities in Burkina Faso
- to ensure better mastery of development management methods and techniques
- to ensure communication for integral human development and the education of populations in self-reliance
- to represent the Catholic Church of Burkina Faso in dealings with state institutions and local, regional and international structures working in the field of integral human development
- to develop an information and research system in the field of integral human development, enabling the monitoring and positive development of actions in the field
Our target audience
OCADES Caritas Burkina carries out its mission in support of all grassroots communities, regardless of religion and ethnicity.
The priority targets of OCADES Caritas Burkina are the most disadvantaged, vulnerable and poorest members of communities and society. Particular emphasis is placed on women, children, young people and people with disabilities.
OCADES works according to the principle of non-discrimination between people and the dialogue of life between communities.
Our values and principles
To realise its vision, OCADES Caritas Burkina is based on the following values and principles:
- the preferential option for the poor
- the dignity of the human person
- the protection of the goods of creation
- empowering the people
- being close to the people
- compassion
- the complementarity of men and women
- transparency and social justice
Our organisation
OCADES Caritas Burkina is a vast network of 15 Diocesan Executive Secretariats (SED) with more than 200 parish branches covering the whole of Burkina Faso. The Burkina Bishops’ Conference is its moral and legal supervisory body. The other bodies of OCADES Caritas Burkina act by delegation and according to the principle of subsidiarity. These are:
- At the national level: the OCADES National Council (CNO), the OCADES Executive Committee (CEO) and the General Secretariat (SG)
- At diocesan level: the OCADES Diocesan Council (CDO), the Management Council (CG) and the OCADES Diocesan Executive Secretariat (SED)
- At parish level: the OCADES Parish Council (CPO), the OCADES Parish Animation Team (EPA) and the OCADES delegates of the CCB (DOC)
The General Secretariat is made up of directorates, departments and services. These are: the General Management, the Administrative and Financial Management, the Human Promotion Department, the Human Solidarity Department, the Women, Youth and Family Department, the Purchasing and Logistics Department, the Finance/Accounting Department, the Monitoring and Evaluation Department, the Communication and Resource Mobilisation Department and the Capacity Building and Experience Capitalisation Department.
Our area of intervention
The activities of OCADES Caritas Burkina cover the 13 regions, 45 provinces and 15 dioceses of Burkina Faso, namely Banfora, Bobo, Dédougou, Diébougou, Dori, Fada N’Gourma, Gaoua, Kaya, Koudougou, Koupéla, Manga, Nouna, Ouagadougou, Ouahigouya and Tenkodogo.