Burkina Faso Regional Program BI-WEEKLY REPORT

The program has 16 cleared activities totaling $520,744 and 43 activities pending, totaling $295,247. Ambassadors for Peace is a key initiative in the Sahel region, where increasing interethnic tensions have led to repeated violent extremist organization (VEO) attacks and threats. BFRP is working to provide communities with conflict management tools and approaches. A first round of conflict mitigation and non-violent conflict resolution training of traditional leaders was organized, with 25 leaders, including Imams, pastors, traditional leaders, priests, youth, and women's representatives, trained in methods to promote peace, tolerance, and cohesion within their communities. These "peace ambassadors" will encourage open dialogue between communities, highlight traditional practices, and encourage strategies for non-violent conflict resolution. The training aims to strengthen the ability of local leaders to promote social cohesion and combat interethnic and interreligious conflicts stoked by VEO influence, particularly in areas with little government representation. A second round of this training will be held with other local leaders in the coming weeks. This initiative is part of BFRP's broader effort to address the root causes of violent extremism and promote community resilience. In the Nord region, BFRP helped launch a conflict management training of trainers with a local partner organization. This training aimed at building the capacity of local trainers who will then implement a three-day training in the two provinces of the region. The trainings will help train 150 youth, religious, and customary leaders, and resource persons on conflict management and CVE, providing them with efficient and effective non-violent problem-solving strategies. This assistance will enable actors in traditional justice systems to address local conflict resolution and reduce the influence of VEOs in exacerbating local tensions. The BFRP's CVE programming in the Nord and Sahel regions is focused on building the capacity of local leaders and communities to prevent and respond to violent extremism. By promoting social cohesion, conflict resolution, and community resilience, the program aims to reduce the influence of VEOs and promote a more stable and secure environment in the region.