The 1985 general census in Burkina Faso found 528,000 persons (307,000 women and 221,000 men) employed full or part-time in micro- and small enterprises (MSE”s). This is 13% of the country”s economically active population. Interestingly, 48% of those principally employed in MSE”s come from rural areas. Cotton spinning is the largest MSE activity, employing 173,890 people (primarily women) full to part-time. Basket weaving (14,128), auto/moped/bicycle repair (12,528), and tailoring (11,542) are the largest full-time activities. MSE”s based on separate artisanal skills congregate in several subsectors , such as spinning and weaving, garment manufacture (tailors, menders, distributors), construction (masons, painters, welders, carpenters, etc.), and hides and skins (butchers, tanners, dyers). These mostly unlicensed, unregistered enterprises provide products and services for the poor majority of Bukinabe. They are major consumers of local natural resources and contribute over 20% of GDP. A 1986 study estimated that the informal sector accounted for 85% of all employment in Ouagadougou. This report combines the results of six subsector analyses (spinning and weaving, skins and hides, garments, cosmetic products, construction, and agricultural equipment) with a general examination of ongoing and planned MSE support programs. It identifies the obstacles to MSE growth, major areas of opportunity not being pursued, and opportunities for high- impact USAID intervention.
