Burkina Faso sett underifrån Burkina Faso seen from below Ambassaden fattade den 14 mars 2018 beslut att via Uppsala universitet stödja en serie studier som ska gynna ambassadens arbete med strategisk analys, 2018 – 2020 (AMB/BF/DEV2018-005). 

Då ambassaden i mars 2019 fick en faktura från Uppsala universitet (avseende ett förskott, i enlighet med avtal) konstaterades en rad felaktigheter i ambassadens tidigare hantering. Serien av studier har karaktären av mer generell forskning. Men regeringens strategi för utvecklingssamarbetet med Burkina Faso innefattar inte forskning. Den finansiering som anges i existerande beslut täcker bara 2018 och därmed återspeglas inte avtalets löptid 2018 - 2021, och inte heller avtalets totalbelopp om 4 307 400 kronor. Finansieringen har genomförts via ordinarie sak-anslag (process 501) och inte via regleringsbrevets anvisning för studier och utredningar (502). Stödet har vidare genomförts i form av en konsultinsats. En mer lämplig form för denna typ av samarbete är tjänsteköpsavtal eller gåvobistånd. Upphandlingen har gjorts i form av direktupphandling, och inte i konkurrens. Utredningsgruppen på Sida är informerad om situationen (mejl 1 april 2019). Chefen för avdelningen för Afrika är informerad om utredningsgruppens rekommendation (mejl 9 april 2019). 

(Hanteringen innehåller ett ytterligare antal felaktigheter: Den faktura om förskott på 607 800 kronor som ambassaden i mars 2019 erhöll-faktura nr 41022533 -  överensstämmer visserligen med löptexten i avtalet, som anger att: “… remuneration to junior staff (INSS) totalling 607 800 SEK …”. Men den till avtalet bilagda budgeten speglar inte storleken på förskottet. Den del som utgör ”Reimbursable costs” vore rimlig att dela proportionellt  - enligt budgeterad tid -  mellan en senior och junior person, vilka är angivna i budgeten. Avtalet är dock ingånget och måste följas.  Vidare finns en uppenbar felskrivning i den bilagda budgeten. Sidorna 2 och 3 ska för respektive andra rubrik anges 2019 respektive 2020, inte 2018 respektive 2018.) 

Enligt avtalsvillkoren står det ambassaden fritt att närhelst säga upp avtalet med omedelbar verkan. Ambassaden vill dock fatta beslut om finansiering 2019 mot bakgrund av att Uppsala universitet har omarbetat projektförslaget. Ambassaden bedömer att den studie som ska genomföras 2019 - i omarbetad version - medför direkt nytta för en av ambassadens insatser, ”Common Gender Fund 2019-2023” (insatsnummer 12696). För denna insats finns ett behov av analys av kvinnors politiska deltagande därför att ett delmål för insatsen är att stärka kvinnors politiska egenmakt. Vi ser att studien kommer bidra till ökad effektivitet i insatserna på det området.

Med hänvisning till delegeringsbeslutet 2019-000166 och i enlighet med bifogade projektförslag föreslås att en studie beslutas med total budget om 2 263 800 kronor. Återstoden av avtalet sägs upp, det vill säga den studie som i avtalet budgeterats för 2020-2021. Det stöd som nu beslutas till “Burkina Faso seen from below” behandlas i systemet som en insats och inte en upphandling, Vi använder därför Trac (istället för ett separat beslut på ambassadens brevpapper vilket görs vid upphandling). On March 14, 2018, the Embassy decided to support Uppsala University with a series of studies that are supposed to benefit the Embassy's work with strategic analysis, 2018 - 2020 (AMB / BF / DEV2018-005).

When  the Embassy in March 2019 received an invoice from Uppsala University (regarding an advance, in accordance with the agreement), a number of errors were found in the Embassy's previous handling. The series of studies has a character of more general research. But the government's strategy for development cooperation with Burkina Faso does not include research. The financing stated in the existing decision covers only 2018 and does not reflect the agreement period, 2018 - 2021, nor the total amount of the agreement of SEK 4,307,400. The funding has been carried out via the ordinary development cooperation appropriation (process 501) and not via the government´s  instruction for studies  (502). The support has also been carried out via a consulting service. A more suitable form for this type of supoport  would have been a service purchase agreements or a gift grant. Furthermore, the procurement has been made in the form of direct procurement, and not through  competition. The investigation team at Sida is informed about the situation (e-mail April 1, 2019). The Head of the Department for Africa is informed about the investigation group's recommendation (e-mail 9 April, 2019).

Under the terms of the agreement, the Embassy is free to terminate the agreement at any time with immediate effect. The Embassy, ??however, wants to take a decision on financing in 2019 in light of the fact that Uppsala University has reworked the project proposal. The Embassy considers that the study that is currently to be carried out - in a revised version - will directly benefit one of the Embassy's already existing interventions, "Common Gender Fund 2019-2023” (contribution number 12696). For this intervention  there is a need for analysis of women's political empowerment on a local level as one of the objectives of the contribution is to increase women's political empowerment. The Embassy assesses that the study will enable increased efficiency towards this goal through a deepened understanding of the factors at play. 

With reference to the decision 2019-000166 and in accordance with the project proposal, it is proposed that a decision on a study shall be taken with a total budget of SEK 2,263,800. The remainder of the agreement shall be terminated, that is, the study that have been budgeted in the agreement for 2020 --21. The support now decided on "Burkina Faso seen from below" is handled in the system as an intervention and not a procurement, we  therefore use Trac (instead of a separate decision on the Embassy ´s letterhead,  which would have been used for a procurement). Despite laws voted, multiple actions and means implemented, Burkinabè women participation in politics remains low and they are under-represented in terms of formal political leadership and electoral positions. However, women are at the center of politics, protests, associations and elections.
The objective of the study is to generate knowledge (both detailed and strategic) of contexts, structures and circumstances that condition the public participation of women and girls, as well as their involvement in formal decision-making and leadership roles in order to identify ways and means to strengthen female leadership in local arenas (villages, sectors, communes, provinces, regions). 
The study aims in particular to: 
- Explore the public participation of women and girls, including socio-cultural perceptions, psychological aspects, economic constraints, practices discriminatory practices, domestic violence, etc. ; 
- Document the perceptions of women regarding the inclusion and exclusion of leadership and civic participation positions; 
- Analyze the interactions between men and women, boys and girls, in contexts specific (school, meeting, workplace, work opportunities); 
- Develop case studies demonstrating women's leadership and the practices of decentralization (women and political parties, girls as youth leaders, double the household burden, community life, etc.); 
- Analyze the constraints and opportunities of the Common Gender Fund (FCG) with regard to effective application of support for the empowerment of women and youth; 
- Analyze the involvement of women and young people in security challenges in arenas local; 
- Document best practices to strengthen leadership and empowerment women and youth policy by focusing on local initiatives and practices; and 
- Make concrete recommendations regarding activities, actions and specific organizations, to strengthen female leadership in Burkina Faso, particularly in relation to the Gender Common Fund.