Burkina Faso Regional Program Bi-Weekly Report

The program has 33 cleared activities totaling $1,182,183 and 53 activities pending totaling $402,576. CVE Workshop participants, consisting of 25 traditional and religious leaders from the Sahel region, shared experiences and discussed possible steps to counter violent extremist organization (VEO) influence. The workshop built the capacity of these leaders to strengthen the resilience of their respective cities against VEO influence. Participants appreciated the participation of Nigerians in these critical discussions, viewing it as the first step toward greater cross-border cooperation and information sharing to support CVE efforts. The workshop created a learning space to share experiences and facilitate the connection of these community leaders to amplify their voices and efforts in preserving cohesion and tolerance. Breaking Bread and Breaking Boundaries Between IDP and Host Communities in Sahel brought together 300 women, 50 men, and several children, including representatives from the Christian and Muslim communities. The ceremony aimed to promote social cohesion in an environment threatened by violent extremism. Participants shared food and engaged in cultural activities, including a music performance and a sketch. The event allowed participants to grasp the importance of cohesion and understand the experiences of internally displaced persons (IDPs). A male IDP participant stated, "I fled, leaving everything in the village to save my life. I have settled here with my family for two months now. I left my cattle, my granaries, and everything. With this ceremony, I see that the host population understands what we went through, takes care of us, and we should all do our best to maintain social cohesion." In the Nord region, economic activities have decreased significantly due to VEO threats, as people have self-restricted their travel. However, as a result of the training, most beneficiaries affirmed that they were able to adapt their activities to the size of the current market, keep records of their transactions, and better manage their stocks. Merchants have developed strategies to be more resilient to violent extremist influence, such as stopping the sale of products that could benefit VEOs. A merchant stated, "Many of us have stopped selling phone credits to anyone. If I don’t know you, I say I don’t have credits. We have stopped selling fuel because VEOs are now searching for it. When you sell fuel, you are in danger." The BFRP has observed that people have developed strategies to mitigate risks and adapt to the current market conditions. The BFRP's CVE programming aims to promote social cohesion and resilience in the Nord and Sahel regions of Burkina Faso. The program's activities focus on building the capacity of community leaders, promoting economic activities, and fostering cross-border cooperation and information sharing. The BFRP's efforts aim to support CVE efforts and promote a more resilient and cohesive society in the face of violent extremist threats.