warranty for financing to be obtained. The financial package attracts a low interest rate of 2% for persons with disabilities, 3.5% for girls and 4% for the other entrepreneurs. 76. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Finance, the results obtained by the FAIJ from 2008 to 2011 are as follows: 16,981 youths trained in entrepreneurship, 3,111 micro-projects were financed and 12,220 jobs were created. Loans provided for this period stood at CFAF 13,973,126,035. From 2000 to 2011, while ensuring entrepreneurial management techniques training, the Employment Promotion Support Fund (FAPE) provided an amount of CFAF 4,223,583,241 for the creation and consolidation of 1,431projects. This led to the creation and consolidation of 6,982 jobs. In 2010, the Fund was able to recover CFAF 404,000,000 out of the expected CFAF 500,000,000, representing a rate of 80.82%. 77. In addition to the facilities for accessing credit, the Government is working to promote the training of job applicants and stimulate on-the-job training through the Vocational Training and Apprenticeship Support Fund (FAFPA). This Fund ensured the training of 581 apprentices at a cost of eighty-seven million, four hundred and sixty-one thousand, nine hundred and forty-five CFA Francs (87,461,945), nine hundred and eighty nine (989) SME/SMI workers at a cost of CFAF 106869693, 372 rural actors at a cost of CFAF 20,286,935 and 986 craftsmen at a cost of CFAF 78,043,478. Every year, 10,000 youths also undergo training in project start-ups and job-seeking techniques. The desire to facilitate access to sources of financing by entrepreneurs led the Ministry of Youth, Employment and Vocational Training to introduce a single window into which all funds are pooled (FAIJ, FASI, FAPE and FAFPA) and placed under its supervision. 78. With regard to older persons, measures have been taken to improve their situation. Thus, retirees can now receive short-term loans (24 months) from the banks to enable them to carry out income-generating activities. They also receive free medical check-up once a year, while some of their medical bills are subsidized. Similarly, a policy for the retraining of retired soldiers has been adopted. In addition, the Government decided in September, 2013 to take charge of the health needs of 3,690 older persons and support for 1,125 individual projects of older persons. 79. In order to boost agricultural production and to promote the employment of disadvantaged social groups, particularly women in the agricultural sector, the State took measures which focused on small-scale village irrigation schemes for the development of off-season crops. 80. With regard to persons with disabilities, the State is offering support to certain associations for the introduction of production workshops. It can deploy its personnel to associations or specialized establishments which offer vocational training. In this area, numerous private entities are also involved in the training of persons with disabilities in dressmaking, batik, agriculture, gardening, chalk manufacturing, pottery, etc.  Redeployment of Workers 81. The Government introduced a national support plan for retrenched and retired workers (Decree No.2008-049/PRES/PM/MEF/MTSS of 6 February, 2008 on the establishment of a national support fund for retrenched and retired workers). This fund assists in improving the living conditions of this category of persons by financing their projects. 24