Originally, indigenous women's religious institutes and of foreign origin, present in Burkina Faso and Niger, decided to join hands to work better "together" for their self-care and contribute "with" the populations. to the fight against poverty and the eradication of basic misery.
It is first, from 1998, a story of collaboration and a questioning vis-à-vis poverty and mass misery which will have allowed the creation of ASIENA.
The Inter-institute Association "Together and With" (ASIENA) was officially created in 2002 on the initiative of these female religious institutes (the Union of Major Superiors of Burkina Faso and Niger) with the support of the French NGO CCFD (Catholic Committee against Hunger and for Development).
Currently, ASIENA brings together more than a hundred religious congregations from Burkina Faso and Niger. It operates in 35 out of the 45 provinces of Burkina Faso and is present in 13 out of 15 dioceses.
It conducts its activities through three departments:
- Microfinance Department (ECRI)
- Mutual Health Department (ESI)
- Projects Department (Human Resources and Partnership)
Legally, ASIENA takes the form of an ASBL recognized by the Burkinabè State.