LAFI Burkina
ANNUAL REPORT
2024
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1164093
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Burkina Faso ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Partnerships ............................................................................................................................................ 3 WORKING TOWARDS OUR OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................. 4 Governance ........................................................................................................................................... 15 Our Board of Trustees ........................................................................................................................... 16 General Fundraising .............................................................................................................................. 16 Grants .................................................................................................................................................... 16 Reserves policy...................................................................................................................................... 17 Declaration ............................................................................................................................................ 17 Management Report ............................................................................................................................. 18
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INTRODUCTION
Lasting Action for Inclusion in Burkina Faso (LAFI Burkina) was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in October 2015 and is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (registered charity number 1164093).
LAFI Burkina’s vision is an inclusive society in Burkina Faso where persons with disabilities have equal rights and opportunities, with access to support to gain employment and alleviation from poverty. Our mission is to strengthen the capacities of our partner organisations in Burkina Faso to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities to live in a fully inclusive society.
Our vision and mission support our core charitable objectives, which are:
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To promote the rights of persons with disabilities in Burkina Faso
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To promote social inclusion in the Burkinabè community
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To relieve poverty amongst persons with disabilities in Burkina Faso
This report outlines LAFI Burkina’s work towards these objectives, covering the period from January 1st to December 31st 2024.
BURKINA FASO
In 2024, Burkina Faso continued to experience armed conflict, as well as natural disasters such as floods and drought, all of which exacerbated the humanitarian situation in the country. The United Nations Human Rights Chief expressed concerns over a rise in the killing of civilians, allegedly perpetrated by both armed groups and state actors, forcing internal displacement and thus increasing humanitarian needs and overwhelming basic social services. Food insecurity, protection issues and concerns over healthcare and water, hygiene and sanitation, along with a lack of sufficient funding and attention from the international community, have meant that Burkina Faso remains one of the world’s most neglected humanitarian crises, with more than 2 million people still internally displaced and around 25% of the population requiring humanitarian assistance.
PARTNERSHIPS
Our approach is to work with local organisations who know the local context in Burkina Faso, and who work directly with persons with disabilities. We provide these organisations with financial and
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technical support to develop projects that improve the lives of children, women and men living with a disability.
In 2024, LAFI Burkina continued its partnership with two local organisations in Burkina Faso: Tigoung Nonma and ODIS (Organisation for Inclusive Development and Solidarity).
Tigoung Nonma is a charity and cooperative of disabled artisans. It provides training and employment opportunities for its members and promotes their work to enable them to earn a sustainable living.
ODIS (Organisation for Inclusive Development and Solidarity) is a nongovernmental organisation that provides appropriate and sustainable solutions to the extreme poverty, exclusion and vulnerability faced by many of the most marginalised groups in Burkina Faso.
In 2025, we will maintain and develop our partnerships with partner organisations in Burkina Faso, with a continued focus on monitoring and evaluating current projects, as well as working with our partners to develop and seek funding for additional projects that promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in Burkinabè society.
WORKING TOWARDS OUR OBJECTIVES
Impact of Insecurity in Burkina Faso
As a result of the ongoing security context in Burkina Faso, we have unfortunately experienced difficulties in supporting our partners with project delivery, due to issues with fund transfers resulting in significant project delays. In 2024, however, we were able to identify a new payment solution which allowed us to transfer funds to our partners more quickly and efficiently. Nevertheless, the security situation has continued to have an impact on our partners’ activities, as they have had to adapt their activities to the ever-changing context in the country.
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TO PROMOTE DISABLED PEOPLE’S RIGHTS IN BURKINA FASO
International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD)
To celebrate this year’s IDPwD, we launched a fundraising appeal to support our partner organisation Tigoung Nonma’s new project to open a restaurant to generate an income for its members, with the money raised to be used to purchase equipment for the restaurant as well as provide training for disabled artisans who will work in the restaurant.
We also sent out a newsletter to all of our supporters to mark the day and share an update on our activities.
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WEBSITE, E-NEWSLETTER & SOCIAL MEDIA
We have continued to use our Website, e-Newsletter and Social Media to promote our work and share information on disability rights, Burkina Faso, and issues related to the inclusion of persons with disabilities. We used our social media plan to create relevant content and post more frequently on social media in order to increase our follower numbers, as well as to enhance engagement with our existing supporters.
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In 2025, we will continue to raise awareness of issues faced by persons with disabilities in Burkina Faso, through our presence at relevant events, using social media, and organising fundraising activities.
TO PROMOTE SOCIAL INCLUSION IN THE BURKINABE COMMUNITY
ODIS Project
In 2024, the ODIS Inclusive Education and Training project came to an end. The project raised awareness amongst families of the importance of education and early intervention for children with disabilities, encouraging parents to enrol their children with disabilities in school, whilst simultaneously working with schools and vocational colleges to train teachers, create a physically accessible environment, and provide appropriate resources. The project also worked with employers to increase access to work opportunities, and carried out advocacy campaigns on disability rights at
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both a government and local community level, targeting actors to influence and create positive attitudinal and behavioural changes to empower persons with disabilities.
The project improved the quality of life and social inclusion of children and adults with disabilities through the provision of inclusive education and training, with the following results achieved since its inception in 2022.
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33 children with disabilities were enrolled at school and provided with school supplies and mobility equipment when needed. ODIS also worked with parents to encourage their children to attend school, as well as with schools to provide guidance on each individual child’s needs.
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12 adults with disabilities were enrolled in vocational training programmes (tailoring, sustainable design, leatherwork, production of carved wooden masks, welding and manufacture of mobility aids), to equip them with the skills to earn a sustainable livelihood. ODIS also supported these persons with transport costs to be able to attend their training sessions.
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- Adapted tricycles were manufactured and donated to 4 adults with disabilities, enabling them to access activities and work in their local communities.
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- 32 sessions on inclusion and disability rights were held with parents and families of children and adults with disabilities, as well as 14 sessions with vocational trainers and trainees. In an attempt to create a more positive portrayal of disability and to change the way parents perceive their child’s disability, the project thus advocated for the creation of an enabling environment where parents learned how to encourage their child to achieve their full potential. These sessions also provided family members and vocational trainers with knowledge of disability rights, as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and within Burkinabè law, challenging the attitudinal barriers that hinder the inclusion of persons with disabilities within communities and educational establishments, as well as providing guidance on removing environmental and institutional barriers.
ODIS are continuing to identify persons with disabilities in need of support with inclusive education and training.
Tigoung Nonma’s Activities
The ongoing security situation and the continued decline in tourist numbers (traditional customers for crafts) visiting Burkina Faso have had a negative impact on both Tigoung Nonma (TN) and its members. The TN cooperative’s artisans are unable to undertake the majority of their artisanal activities, with most not generating any income from producing crafts. TN also relies on the resale of its members’ products to generate the funds needed to cover its operational costs and to support its members.
In 2024, LAFI Burkina worked with TN to identify new opportunities to develop income-generating activities from their new headquarters, with the aim of building the resilience of their artisans to survive within a challenging climate. As part of this work, TN developed a project to open a restaurant and catering business at their new headquarters that will create livelihood opportunities for its
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members and strengthen their economic empowerment. We therefore began fundraising for TN to purchase equipment for the restaurant, as well as to provide training for disabled artisans who will work in the restaurant.
In the initial phase of this new venture, we supported TN to open a seasonal ice-selling stand to help them begin generating an income to put towards the costs of setting up and running their new restaurant. We provided TN with funds to purchase a freezer, and solar panels to cover the cost of running the freezer as well as to contribute to their other electricity costs. We also covered the cost of purchasing a laptop to be used to coordinate the restaurant project.
Once the freezer was purchased and solar panels were installed, TN members worked together to prepare a suitable space at the headquarters from where they could begin selling ice.
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In 2025, we will continue supporting TN with their restaurant venture, as well as exploring more ways to diversify their income to enable them to support artisans with disabilities to earn a sustainable livelihood. We will also continue purchasing crafts from TN to sell in the UK, in order to support the cooperative’s members, as well as to raise awareness of the cooperative’s work.
TO RELIEVE POVERTY AMONGST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN BURKINA FASO
Parallel Windsor
LAFI Burkina was invited to participate in Parallel Windsor in July 2024 as a charity partner. Parallel Windsor is an award-winning event featuring a range of challenge events for people of all ages, health conditions and abilities.
LAFI Burkina has been involved in this inclusive event since its inception in 2016 (as Parallel London), and it has given us the opportunity to fundraise by encouraging our supporters to raise money to participate in challenge events.
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In 2024, participating in Parallel Windsor allowed us to raise over £1,000 through sponsorship and craft sales.
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STALLS & ONLINE SHOP
In July 2024, we ran a stall as part of the Parallel Windsor event. Despite the rainy weather, we were able to promote our work to attendees and sell some of Tigoung Nonma’s beautiful crafts.
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We also continued to promote our online shop, which sells Tigoung Nonma’s crafts.
The artisans who are members of the Tigoung Nonma cooperative benefit from the purchase of their crafts by LAFI Burkina. The cooperative itself also benefits, as it receives 20% from each sale made by its members to ensure that its activities are sustained. As the cooperative seeks to provide sustainable incomes for its members, supporting the cooperative allows us to work towards our objective to relieve poverty amongst persons with disabilities, as well as to promote the inclusion of the cooperative’s members in the socio-economic development of their country.
We therefore run stalls and use our online shop to promote Tigoung Nonma’s work, as well as to raise awareness of the exclusion issues faced by persons with disabilities in Burkina Faso, and what LAFI Burkina is doing to combat this.
GOVERNANCE
LAFI Burkina is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, functioning in line with our Constitution, with all our trustees appointed by existing trustees.
All trustees must follow LAFI Burkina’s policies, including taking into consideration the risks identified in the LAFI Burkina Risk Register and doing their best to mitigate these.
Our volunteers also follow our policies as they support LAFI Burkina with its activities, namely with fundraising and events. When planning and executing our activities, we have abided by the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit.
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We continuously review and formulate organisational policies and procedures to guide best practice from our trustees, volunteers and partner organisations, as well as to support our growth and development and help us to meet our objectives in a more effective and efficient manner.
LAFI Burkina has complied with the duty in section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.
OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Two of our trustees resigned from their roles in 2024: Louise Shaw on 7th March 2024 and Hannah Crichton-Smith on 15th December 2024. Both Louise and Hannah provided invaluable support to LAFI Burkina, in particular with fundraising, communications and partner support. We are very grateful for their contributions to our work and wish them all the best for the future.
There have been no other changes to our Board:
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Melissa Miller (Chair)
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Dana El-Hilu (Vice Chair)
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Zarina Douglas-Sori (Treasurer)
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Jonathan Fowle (General Trustee)
All our trustees give their time voluntarily and have received no remuneration or other benefits.
GENERAL FUNDRAISING
In 2024, we raised a total of £2,126.59 (2023: £2,950.70) , primarily through donations and craft sales.
Please see our Financial Report for a full breakdown.
GRANTS
LAFI Burkina applies to trusts and foundations for funding for specific projects with our partners, and also raises unrestricted income through fundraising events. These funds allow us to award grants to our partner organisations to support projects that correspond to our objectives.
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In line with our Grant-Making Policy, our partners must submit a funding application form in which they present the project for which they require funding, along with a log frame and a budget proposal.
After careful consideration from LAFI Burkina, as well as support on modifications to enhance projects, partners sign a Grant Agreement Form so that a grant may be awarded.
RESERVES POLICY
As at 31 December 2024, LAFI Burkina has restricted reserves of £nil (2023: £nil) and unrestricted reserves of £3,981.57 (2023: £6,810.30) . This is in line with our Reserves Policy to retain £2,486.00 per year.
DECLARATION
The trustees declare that they have approved the Annual Report and Financial Report.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees, on 21[st] October 2025.
Melissa Miller CHAIR
Dana El-Hilu VICE CHAIR
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Management Report
LAFI Burkina
For the period ended 31 December 2024
Prepared by Melissa Miller
Prepared on 10 October 2025
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Financial Activities Comparison
January - December 2024
| Financial Activities Comparison January - December 2024 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Total | ||
| Jan - Dec 2024 | Jan - Dec 2023(PY) | |
| INCOME | ||
| Donations | 592.54 | 742.45 |
| Fundraising | 1,803.15 | |
| Amazon Smile | 33.32 | |
| Crowdfunding | 75.03 | 24.17 |
| Easyfundraising | 35.74 | 75.97 |
| Events | 1,370.07 | |
| Total Fundraising | 1,480.84 | 1,936.61 |
| Sales | ||
| TN Crafts | 53.21 | 271.64 |
| Total Sales | 53.21 | 271.64 |
| Total Income | 2,126.59 | 2,950.70 |
| TOTAL | 2,126.59 | 2,950.70 |
| EXPENDITURES | ||
| Financial management costs | 510.00 | 484.80 |
| Fundraising costs | ||
| Event costs | 370.46 | 206.42 |
| Total Fundraising costs | 370.46 | 206.42 |
| Insurances | 96.00 | 119.73 |
| Office/General Administrative Expenses | 15.54 | 15.54 |
| Project Grants | 3,593.40 | |
| TNprojects | 215.54 | |
| Total Project Grants | 3,593.40 | 215.54 |
| TN craftpayments | 369.92 | |
| Total Expenditures | 4,955.32 | 1,042.03 |
| NET OPERATING INCOME | -2,828.73 | 1,908.67 |
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | £ -2,828.73 | £1,908.67 |
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Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2024
Total
| Total | |
|---|---|
| FIXED ASSET | |
| Total Fixed Asset | |
| CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND | |
| Business Bank Account | 3,981.57 |
| PettyCash | 0.00 |
| Total Cash at bank and in hand | 3,981.57 |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 3,981.57 |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS(LIABILITIES) | 3,981.57 |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES | 3,981.57 |
| TOTAL NET ASSETS (LIABILITIES) | £3,981.57 |
| CHARITY FUNDS | |
| Retained Earnings | 6,810.30 |
| Surplus/(Deficit) | -2,828.73 |
| Total Charity funds | £3,981.57 |
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees Lasting Action For Inclusion in Burkina Faso (LAFI Burkina) On accounts for the year 31/12/2024 Charity no 1164093 ended Set out on pages 18 - 20
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2024.
Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Date: 20/10/2025 Name: Lloyd Cross Relevant professional ACA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 1 Minorca Grove Milton Keynes MK5 7FU
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Oct 2018
IER