Burkina Faso Regional Program Bi-Weekly Report April 20 - May 03, 2019

The program has 43 cleared activities, totaling $1,418,570, and 54 activities pending, totaling $1,280,451. CVE efforts in Nord region focus on countering recruitment efforts by violent extremist organizations (VEOs). The need for speaking against these efforts and offering counter-narratives that discourage joining the ranks of extremist groups is vital. A local association partnered with BFRP to launch a radio call-in program, engaging youth in Nord region on inter-generational and inter-religious dialogues and recruitment. The program, "DJ of the Day," features a new youth moderator hosting a one-hour session each week. As of September 15, the third round of the radio broadcast centered on the role of young people in the resolution of political conflicts, led by a female moderator. Local youths called in to provide their points of view and thanked the organizers for giving youth a space to make their voices heard. Training of influential women in Nord region is also a key component of the program. A local women leadership NGO trained women as "community influencers" in negotiation and persuasion techniques. These women, often mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters, are well-positioned to dissuade youth from sympathizing with extremist rhetoric and recruitment. By educating and guiding the youth around critical issues, the trained women are able to help shape the narrative around recruitment by VEOs. Following the training and awareness-raising, the association conducted a follow-up review of how the trained women were able to influence and stop recruitment of their community members. The trained women demonstrated that speaking about recruitment and violence in a certain way has allowed them to better understand the frustrations felt in their community and provide support to those who feel insecure. Community engagement is a key aspect of the program. A local association held an awareness-raising session for 50 local women, responding to fear felt in the commune and providing support on how to communicate in a way that fosters social cohesion and how to live together despite ethnic and religious differences. In addition to open discussions, the women participants received training to improve the manufacturing and sales of locally produced grains and vegetables, such as corn and millet. This activity aimed to provide support and promote social cohesion in the community. The BFRP's CVE programming in Nord and Sahel regions aims to counter recruitment efforts by VEOs and promote social cohesion in the community. The program's efforts focus on engaging youth and influential women in the region, providing them with the skills and knowledge to dissuade youth from sympathizing with extremist rhetoric and recruitment. By promoting social cohesion and providing support to the community, the BFRP aims to create a more stable and secure environment in Nord and Sahel regions.