Urban squandering: the case of the inhabitants of po (Burkina Faso)

The issues of economic integration and poverty are at the heart of concerns in the cities of Burkina Faso in particular and those of sub-Saharan Africa in general. For example, in 2019, the ILO unemployment rate in the cities of Burkina Faso was 10% compared to 7.1% nationally (1). Urban centers that were once an "El Dorado" for people looking for work have become places of growing poverty and misery. It is in this context that the informal sector has grown and constitutes a godsend for young people, educated or not. The objective of this article is to analyze the contribution of the informal sector to the socio-economic integration of the population in Po.The methodology adopted is based on documentary research, field observation, data collection through surveys and interviews with 245 people. The data collected was processed and analyzed. The results of these analyses showed that three categories of actors contribute to the distribution of products in Po. In addition, 100% of the respondents stated that the sale of various products is their main means of survival. The income obtained from the sale of products is used by 82% for current household expenses, 15% for projects and 3% for social events. In sum, the informal sector in Po has contributed to the creation of employment and the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the population.