The Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco) took place in Burkina Faso on 01 March 2013. To reward efforts taken to highlight poverty-environment (P-E) and gender issues PEI Burkina Faso in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment took the opportunity to present an award to the movie that best highlights these issues. Among the entries, ‘Le Bois de la Survie’ (The wood of survival) was announced the winner for bringing attention to the role of women in wood collection. The movie highlights the economic and social value of wood for the survival of a whole community and the role of women.

Burkina Faso’s Minister of Environment presented the award to the Guinean movie director Abraham Fofana.  The movie also received an award from the World Bank for highlighting how poverty could be reduced through sustainable management of natural resources. FESPACO is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the region and the PEI award drew the attention of the audience to P-E and gender issues. Following the award ceremony the Minister of Environment and the PEI team led a well attended discussion on P-E and gender linkages. The momentum gained will further be used by PEI Africa to raise awareness on P-E linkages and their impact on sustainable equitable development in the region.   

On 03 March2013, the Magazine FazoZine ran an article that highlighted the movie’s accomplishments at the Pan-African Film and Television Festival:  ‘Fespaco 2013: «Le Bois de la survie» d’AbrahamFofana tape dansl’œil de la Banquemondiale.’