Burkina Faso Regional Program (BFRP) Bi-Weekly Report

Since August 2018, the program has cleared twenty-four activities totaling $668,016. There are thirty activities currently pending, totaling $157,348. CVE programming in the Nord and Sahel regions focuses on empowering women to play a role in countering violent extremism. In March 2019, twenty-five women leaders from five provinces received training in photography skills and CVE themes. These women have returned to their communities to capture visual images of their perception of women's roles in CVE, which will be exhibited in major communes in each province. The training aimed to equip women with the skills to document their experiences and perspectives on CVE, promoting a more nuanced understanding of the issue. In an area affected by increased targeting of schools by violent extremist organizations, community leaders and teachers sought to hold a discussion on how to best support education. With the support of BFRP, the forum took place in late February, with over 500 attendees. The meeting emphasized the importance of education for children and social cohesion among communities. A local theatre group performed during the forum, and community members and authorities committed to having a regular presence around schools to encourage a sense of security and belonging. The Nord region has been affected by increasing movements and semi-permanent presence of extremist groups. Reported recruiting techniques have included offers of motorcycles and significant amounts of cash to young people around traditional gold panning sites. These tactics have led to a more permanent sense of fear and anxiety in these areas, where the population already lives in precarious economic conditions. BFRP is recruiting a field programming assistant to work with the team to develop targeted activities that respond to and reduce the specific influences from violent extremist organizations in the area. BFRP's CVE programming aims to address the root causes of violent extremism and promote community resilience. By empowering women and supporting education, the program seeks to create a more stable and secure environment in the Nord and Sahel regions. The program's focus on community-led initiatives and targeted interventions aims to address the specific needs and challenges of these regions, promoting a more effective and sustainable response to CVE.