Official launch of Ucoopia in Burkina Faso: knowledge at the service of development

On January 27 in Ouagadougou, we officially launched Ucoopia at a ceremony attended by institutional representatives, academics, technical partners, and numerous guests. This event marks a key milestone in the rollout of our NGO and confirms our ambition: to strengthen scientific cooperation, research, and innovation in the service of development.

The ceremony opened with a welcome speech by Joséfa Zagué-Somé, Burkina Coordinator, who reiterated Ucoopia’s objectives and the importance of this initiative in the Burkinabe national context.

Following a video message from our CEO, Julie Simon, Félix Vanderstricht, Head of Development & Communication, presented our strategic priorities, partnerships, and medium- and long-term outlook. 

Committed institutional speeches 

The representative of the Belgian Embassy in Burkina Faso and Professor Issa Somé of Joseph Ki-Zerbo University praised the Ucoopia initiative, highlighting its potential for scientific cooperation, capacity building, and academic outreach.

A panel of experts at the heart of the discussions

The highlight of the ceremony was a panel discussion moderated by Corentin Hecquet, SEED research associate (ULiège) and member of the UMONS International Relations Department, which brought together professors Amandine Nachtergael (UMONS), Moussa Compaoré (Joseph Ki-Zerbo University), and Gabin Korbeogo (Joseph Ki-Zerbo University).

Together, they discussed issues related to research, innovation, and North-South partnerships, while highlighting the key role of universities and collaborative projects such as Ucoopia in the production and promotion of knowledge.

Speakers emphasized the need to create sustainable spaces for dialogue, promote interdisciplinarity, and strengthen synergies between institutions.

A closing ceremony marked by partnership

The ceremony concluded with a question-and-answer session, followed by an official photo and a networking cocktail reception. This convivial moment allowed participants to exchange ideas, forge links, and consider future collaborations.

Through this official launch, we are affirming our commitment to becoming a long-term part of the research and innovation ecosystem in Burkina Faso, focusing on dialogue, cooperation, and knowledge sharing in the service of inclusive and sustainable scientific development.