Burkina Faso Regional Program BI-WEEKLY REPORT

The program has 17 cleared activities totaling $498,799 and 36 activities pending totaling $252,246. ICT/Leadership Training for Vulnerable Youth in the Sahel was a key activity implemented by BFRP. The training aimed to increase the ability of vulnerable youth to resist recruitment efforts by violent extremist organizations (VEO) and persuade their peers to resist as well. A local civil society organization was partnered with to facilitate a workshop on persuasive communication using information and communication technology (ICT) methods. The training covered good practices on recognizing fake social media posts and messages, verifying information seen online, and reviewing unknown profiles before taking them at face value. One hundred youth attended the 3-day training, which was designed to strengthen a sense of leadership and inclusion for these youth, showcasing their ability to strengthen social cohesion in their communities. A female participant noted that the training allowed her to gain knowledge on how to deal with social networks effectively, including double-checking sources and using social networks to communicate and build social cohesion and peace in a context of violent extremism. The training was particularly relevant for youth from the Sahel region, who have been severely affected by the closing of schools, restrictions on movements, and feelings of being sidelined from community decisions. Promoting Kinship Relations for Conflict Management was another key activity implemented by BFRP. A recent kick-off event highlighted the traditional "joking kinship" relations for non-violent conflict resolution, which are typically shared between ethnic groups living in the same community. BFRP is working with three community organizations embedded in each target commune to leverage these associations' deep community ties. This assistance aims to restore the social bonds of solidarity, peace, and dialogue between communities. The BFRP's CVE programming in the Nord and Sahel regions of Burkina Faso is focused on strengthening community resilience against violent extremist organizations (VEO). By promoting leadership and inclusion among vulnerable youth and leveraging traditional conflict management approaches, BFRP aims to create a more peaceful and cohesive society. The program's activities are designed to be sustainable and long-lasting, with a focus on empowering local communities to manage conflicts and resist extremist ideologies.