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.
The Conference of Minister
The General Secretariat
Regional Delegations
Craftsmen and craft enterprises supported by an institutional framework adapted to their emergence, will contribute more to the national economy by improving the competitiveness of their products and services at both national and subregional levels, Valuation of local products and human capital (employment and vocational training).
CODEPA intends to be a cultural and economic area at the regional level where reigns solidarity and complementary among the Member States.
West Africa
Central Africa
Southern and Eastern Africa
North Africa
Statutory contributions of the Member States
Exceptional contributions of the Member States
Contributions of Technical and Financial Partners (FIO, ECOWAS, ECCAS , WAEMU, etc)
The main objectives pursued by CODEPA are:
Identification, organization and promotion of the craft sector;
Implementation of programs and appropriate training actions in the areas of technology, innovation, marketing and management;
The organization of raw material supply sources to improve competitiveness;
Organizing collection circuits and distributing handicraft products;
The search for funding needed to implement the various projects;
Improvement of production (quality and innovation) and the search for new markets both at national and international level;
The establishment of a social protection system adapted to the actors of the sector.
In terms of prospects, it should be noted:
- the project to build the CODEPA headquarters in Ouagadougou and its partnership with the African Union Commission under the Specialized Technical Committees.
- the study on the social protection of artisans in partnership with the African Union (AU) and the specialized agencies (CIPRES, ILO) and the regional economic communities adopted in Lomé by the 1ère Conference of Ministers of African States of West and running;
- establishment within the AU of a unit in charge of handicrafts;
In terms of achievements:
- Existence of a policy document in support of African crafts. The PAPEA (Support Program for Small Enterprises and Crafts) comprising four (04) structuring projects which are:
1) Support for the creation of companies as a means of socio-economic integration of young people whose general objective is to provide young graduates and apprentices with training and mutual support;
2) access to financing, the overall objective of which is to facilitate the access of small businesses and craftsmen to adequate financing;
3) the creation of resource and design centers for arts and crafts: Modernization invocation and quality;
4) the promotion and valorisation of African handicraft products through a virtual gallery backed up by a network of resource centers.
the 8ème was held in Abidjan in Republic of Cote d'Ivoire from 08 to 10 June 2016. The 9e will be held from 21 to 23 June 2017 in Bulawayo in Republic of Zimbabwe
- Realization in progress of the Project Virtual Gallery of African Crafts (GVAA) to promote the Electronic Commerce of handicrafts products.
The stakes are high and the political commitment of the public partners will have to rise to the support of an occupying sector between 30 and 60% of the urban occupied assets and contributing between 5% and 30% of the GDP in each of our countries. where the importance of the involvement of the highest authorities of our countries in the choice of promotion and development policies of the sector.
The current dynamics of craftsmanship and the commitment of all CODEPA stakeholders and member states, suggest that this sector will play a determining role in the economic future of these countries:
