Burkina Faso Regional Program (BFRP): Income Generating Activities Empower Women in Est Region

The program aimed to empower women who had lost their husbands due to terrorist attacks and assassinations. Many of these women were vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups, which offered financial incentives in exchange for carrying weapons or providing food or information about targets. BFRP partnered with a provincial women's organization to provide a training on economic opportunities for 60 vulnerable women in the Est region. From August 6-28, 2020, women learned new techniques for producing high-quality soumbala, a popular local condiment used in dishes like rice and soups throughout West Africa. The training showed how locally available products, such as peanuts and soybeans, can be used to make high-quality soumbala. In addition to learning new techniques, the training also served as a platform to discuss local security and countering terrorist influence in their communities. Each participant received a kit to help them produce their own soumbala, including dryers, pots, tarpaulins, and buckets. Six beneficiaries who started processing and marketing soumbala with the new manufacturing material reported an increase in their income since receiving BFRP's support. Four of them, who were already marketing traditional soumbala, confirmed that their incomes increased dramatically. They cited a 200% increase in weekly profit ranging between XOF 4,000 and XOF 5,000, compared to a previous weekly income of XOF 1,500 and XOF 2,500, using the same amount of raw materials as before the training. The success of this activity was attributed to the combination of training on local security and income-generating activities. Providing equipment that increased women's livelihoods reduced their vulnerability to armed groups and increased their ability to engage with others to promote peace and stability. By participating in training, women were able to significantly contribute to their family's incomes, improve community members' perceptions, and have a stronger voice within their communities. An internally displaced person (IDP) whose husband was killed by extremist groups reported a five-fold increase in her income, from XOF 5,000 to XOF 25,000, after participating in the training. The impact of this activity was evident in the women's ability to increase their profits during the dry season, which is a perfect time for drying soumbala. The training and equipment provided by BFRP empowered women to take control of their economic lives and contribute to their family's well-being. This initiative demonstrates the potential of income-generating activities to promote peace and stability in communities affected by conflict.