I am Binta SIDIBE-GASCON, an activist committed to defending human rights and coexistence.

I have 20 years' experience in the field of development, international cooperation, humanitarian projects, associations and NGOs. In May 2003, together with other players in the sector, we set up the CTDAP association (Culture Tourism Agro-Pastoral Development) in Burkina Faso, with the goal of helping pastoral communities, which at the time were already vulnerable to conflicts between farmers and livestock breeders. The CTDAP association aims to contribute to the development of the agro-pastoral sector in Burkina Faso through participative initiatives in various fields such as culture and tourism, as well as through technical and material assistance to agro-pastoral communities in need. I was president of the CTDAP when it was set up, and then I passed the baton to my colleagues. I remain an active member of this dynamic team in the field, where we have succeeded in involving numerous young people and women who carry the leadership of CTDAP across the Sahel.

In 2018, I joined the KISAL Observatory, a human rights NGO, of which I am vice-president. Kisal is an African organisation for the defence and promotion of human rights in the Sahel, more specifically in pastoral areas. The association was born from the desire to raise awareness about the stigma experienced by communities of nomadic origins (whether they are still on the move or not). Kisal favours an inclusive approach, involving all communities in the Sahel region and addressing human rights issues. Kisal is registered in France, and we have offices and teams in the field in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Benin and Togo. Kisal is a member of the Citizen Coalition for the Sahel, launched on 16 July 2020.

Since I live in Paris, I am also very involved with the diaspora in France and with mobilisations of the French diaspora:

• TASK Force Africa (COVID-19),
• THE COMMITMENT LAB (in the neighbourhoods…)
• Montpellier Summit (Africa-France).

After graduating from business school in Montpellier in 2001, I returned to Burkina Faso and set up my own company, KOUMBIN Conseil, which provides support to companies and public and private organisations in the fields of marketing, communication and digital and project management.

I returned to Paris in 2004, still keen to help those back home, and joined a number of diaspora associations. In 2011, I was elected by Tabital Pulaaku International Europe to represent women in Europe (in charge of promoting women, youth and solidarity). Through my travels, I have been able to meet countless young people who are involved in developing their home countries.