Executive Summary

WINDINKONTE Consortium is launching an integrated agroecological project in Burkina Faso that combines sustainable cereal production, local transformation, and biochar generation to boost food security, farmer incomes, and carbon sequestration. By empowering rural communities—especially women and youth—through climate-smart agriculture, the project creates economic value while restoring degraded soils and generating carbon credits. With a scalable model rooted in circular economy principles, this initiative offers investors a unique opportunity to support environmental resilience and inclusive growth in West Africa. Over five years, the project targets 10 villages, 5,000 direct beneficiaries, and 1,000 tons of CO₂ captured annually through biochar, with a clear path to financial sustainability via agricultural value addition and carbon markets. This is impact investing at its best—transforming lives, land, and livelihoods in one holistic approach. We are seeking $1,000,000 in blended finance , combining grants, concessional loans, and impact investment to fund a 5-year integrated agroecology project in Burkina Faso. This capital will support sustainable cereal production, local transformation units, biochar production, and carbon credit . The WINDINKONTE Consortium brings together a multidisciplinary team of seasoned professionals and local experts with extensive experience in agriculture, rural development, climate resilience, and project management. Our leadership team combines deep technical knowledge with strong operational capabilities to ensure the successful implementation and long-term sustainability of this integrated agroecological project in Burkina Faso. .Pilabre Aminata– Project Director ILBOUDO Omer – Transformation & Value Chain Coordinator A food technologist and entrepreneur, Aïda specializes in cereal processing and nutrition-sensitive value chains. She has supported women’s cooperatives in setting up small-scale milling and food processing units. Her work focuses on improving post-harvest handling, product diversification, and market access for locally transformed cereals. .Pilabre Safietou– Finance & M&E Specialist Certified accountant and M&E expert with over 12 years of experience managing financial operations for development projects. Jean-Paul ensures transparent budgeting, compliance, and performance tracking. He has worked with several NGOs and private sector initiatives, developing robust monitoring frameworks aligned with SDGs and donor requirements. Kopia kevin – Community Engagement & Youth Coordinator Social development specialist focused on youth inclusion and farmer organization strengthening. Abdoul has mobilized and trained hundreds of young people in sustainable agriculture and green entrepreneurship. He plays a key role in linking local communities to project activities and promoting gender equity across all intervention areas. As a newly launching initiative under the WINDINKONTE Consortium, this integrated agroecology project is currently in its startup phase and does not yet generate independent revenue or profits. However, it builds upon the strong operational foundation and field experience of the consortium’s member organizations, which have collectively managed over $5 million in agricultural and environmental projects across Burkina Faso and the Sahel region. The financial model of the project is designed to achieve break-even within three years through multiple income streams: Agricultural sales : Increased productivity from improved farming practices will boost yields and marketable surplus for participating farmers. Value-added cereal products : Local transformation units will produce and sell flours, porridges, snacks, and fortified foods to local markets and institutions (e.g., schools, health centers). Biochar sales : High-quality biochar will be marketed to organic farms and carbon-conscious agribusinesses. Carbon credits : Verified CO₂ sequestration through biochar use will generate tradable carbon credits, creating an additional long-term revenue stream. Anticipated financial performance over 5 years includes: Year 1: Setup and training phase – limited revenue, high reinvestment Year 2–3: Revenue generation begins; break-even expected by end of Year 3 Year 4–5: Scaling operations and increasing profitability through expanded production and carbon credit monetization With a total project budget of $1 million , the financial plan ensures sustainability while offering investors measurable impact and potential returns through blended finance mechanisms, including: Grants for capacity building and pilot testing Low-interest loans for infrastructure and equipment Equity or revenue-sharing models linked to transformation units and carbon revenues The project has been structured with strong cost controls, transparent financial management, and performance monitoring systems, ensuring accountability and long-term viability. With a clear path to self-sufficiency and impact at scale, this initiative offers investors a compelling opportunity to support climate action and rural development while achieving sustainable financial returns. The WINDINKONTE agroecology project operates within the dynamic and growing agricultural sector of Burkina Faso , a landlocked country in West Africa where agriculture accounts for approximately 30% of GDP and employs more than 80% of the labor force . The national cereal market—comprising millet, sorghum, and maize—is substantial and steadily expanding due to population growth, urbanization, and increasing demand for locally produced and nutritious food products. Despite its importance, the sector faces persistent challenges such as soil degradation, climate variability, limited access to improved technologies, and weak post-harvest value chains . These inefficiencies create a critical gap that our integrated model is designed to fill—by combining sustainable production, local transformation, and carbon sequestration into one cohesive system. Target Markets: Local Rural and Urban Consumers : Our primary consumer base includes rural households and urban populations seeking affordable, healthy, and locally sourced cereal-based foods such as flours, porridges, and fortified snacks. With rising awareness around nutrition and food safety, there is strong potential to scale up production and branding of these products. Schools and Public Institutions (Canteens, Health Centers) : We are positioning ourselves to supply fortified cereals to school feeding programs and public health institutions—a growing and stable market supported by government initiatives and international aid programs. Organic and Eco-conscious Agriculture Sector : The biochar we produce will be marketed to organic farms, cooperatives, and agro-ecological enterprises seeking sustainable soil amendments. There is a growing regional interest in regenerative agriculture practices, especially among NGOs and private companies involved in sustainable land management. Carbon Offset Market : One of the most innovative aspects of our business model is our entry into the voluntary carbon market . By generating verified carbon credits through biochar use—which locks carbon into the soil—we can attract impact investors, green funds, and corporate sustainability programs looking to offset emissions. This provides a unique dual benefit of environmental impact and financial return. Regional Export Potential : While our initial focus remains domestic, there is significant potential to expand into neighboring countries such as Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mali, where demand for cereals and sustainable agricultural inputs is also on the rise. Market Trends Supporting Our Model: Growing demand for climate-smart agriculture across Sub-Saharan Africa. Increased policy support from the Burkinabè government for agroecology, soil restoration, and youth employment in rural areas . Rising interest in local value addition and reduced reliance on imported food products.