Hello and welcome to the CODEPA website.

In Africa, handicrafts are today a source of job creation, income and wealth. It is therefore an important vector for the socio-economic development of African States. African craftsmanship is of undeniable richness and astonishing variety in both forms and techniques. This richness is enhanced by the modest materials used in the craft.

Many characteristics, inherent to the craft industry, already belong to the sustainable development: companies on a human scale, personalized relations with the customers, the maintenance of local and traditional know-how, the grid of the rural territories, the animation of the centers cities and neighborhoods, and the socio-professional integration of young people and women.

However, the sector is experiencing difficulties for its full development. These include, inter alia, weak management and basic infrastructure; Shortfalls in operating resources and self-financing, but also the availability of crafted sites; Poor access to credit, due in particular to the lack of confidence of banks and the lack of financing structures tailored to the needs of the sector and the irregular access to Quality (raw material, driving force, etc.). What CODEPA is trying to provide answers to.

CODEPA is an inter-African organization bringing together 26 member states. Its headquarters are located in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

The current dynamics of craftsmanship and the commitment of all actors and CODEPA member states suggest that this sector will play a decisive role in the economic future of these countries.
One of the major challenges of CODEPA is the evaluation at the moment of policies for the development and promotion of handicrafts in the member countries as well as at the sub-regional and continental level as well as the realization of the partnership between the African Union and the CODEPA urged by the States and the actors with a view to an efficient implementation of both the Support Program for Small African Enterprises (PAPEA) and the policies of the African Union in promoting the informal sector and social security and protection adapted to this sector of craftsmanship of which artisans are the main actors.

Still welcome and good navigation.