33-Burkfa-Burkina Faso Regional Program (BFRP) implements countering violent extremism (CVE) programming in Nord, Sahel, and Est regions.

Empowering Young Leaders within their Communities is a key focus area for BFRP. In March 2020, the program collaborated with a regional youth organization to train 40 youth leaders from across Est region on Countering Violent Extremism and their role as community leaders to tackle this growing problem set in their region. The training aimed to equip youth leaders with conflict mitigation, advocacy techniques, and role-playing skills to initiate steps to strengthen their communities against VEOs recruitment and radicalization. The training highlighted the importance of youth involvement in establishing peace and stability in their community. A female participant noted that the training pointed out the role that they, as youths, should play in the current security context, and she wanted to mobilize her fellows to advocate for youth involvement in establishing peace and stability in their community. This initiative demonstrates BFRP's commitment to empowering young leaders to take an active role in countering violent extremism. Scoring for Social Inclusion in the Sahel region is another key area of focus for BFRP. To create an open dialogue on ethnic stigmatization and social exclusion, the program worked with a local association to organize a soccer tournament. The tournament brought together teams composed of members of two or more ethnic groups to promote social inclusion and reduce stigmatization in the community. As part of the tournament, a gathering of community leaders, representatives of ethnic and religious groups, and representatives from civil society was organized to discuss how best to respond to the continued degradation of the security in the region. The soccer tournament and subsequent gathering were successful in promoting social inclusion and reducing stigmatization in the community. A follow-up committee was set up to bring together leaders and record radio messages for the local radio station, on messages of peace and cohesion and on how to live in coexistence between communities. This initiative demonstrates BFRP's commitment to promoting social inclusion and reducing ethnic tensions in the Sahel region. In the Sahel region, BFRP emphasized the need to conduct cultural activities that will allow relieving tensions and strengthening community cohesion. Through soccer, dance, and traditional song competition, local leaders raised their voices against the violence and in favor of peace and community cohesion. One year later, a process enabled by BFRP and facilitated by a community group helped 30 local leaders discuss their viewpoints with local authorities on steps toward mitigating tension among community members and strengthening the stability of their commune. This initiative demonstrates BFRP's commitment to building connections and coordination among community leaders to stem the tide against VEOs causing instability in the Sahel region and reduce social divides within the commune that may become a source of recruitment for VEOs.