Burkina Faso Regional Program Bi-weekly Report June 20 - July 3, 2020

Income Generating Activities for the Youth is a key component of the program, which aims to counter the recruitment of extremist armed groups by providing training and skills to vulnerable youth. In collaboration with a local association, BFRP trained 80 youth, including 40 women, in entrepreneurship skills such as husbandry and poultry farming, fruit and vegetable processing, hairstyling, tailoring, and moto repair. The training also included modules on business skills training, enabling the beneficiaries to market themselves as business leaders and gain confidence to continue their work in the region. The ID Documents for Vulnerable Citizens in Est initiative is another critical component of the program, which addresses the issue of restricted freedom of movement due to a lack of identification documentation. BFRP has conducted free-of-charge ID card campaigns throughout Burkina Faso since 2018, delivering ID documents to over 9,000 citizens, including birth certificates and photo ID cards. This has enabled recipients to enjoy greater freedom of movement and increased access to key state services, such as the right to register and vote in local and national elections. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on Burkina Faso, with a significant increase in new confirmed cases recorded during the bi-weekly reporting period. Community-level transmission is believed to be occurring, and the jump in recorded cases may be linked to the end of health restrictions, which may have given the perception that the COVID crisis is over in Burkina Faso. The program is working to address the pandemic's impact on vulnerable populations, including those affected by the conflict. The Nord region has faced regular incursions by armed groups and interethnic conflicts since 2015, resulting in a growing number of displaced people. BFRP is supporting the provision of key services to these vulnerable populations, including income generation activities, rehabilitation of shared water points, and provision of ID cards. However, the population still feels stigmatized for their ethnic background by government forces, and the fear of being attacked and recruited by extremist armed groups is growing. Community members are calling on national and regional authorities to improve communication and conduct activities that will increase trust and safety for the wellbeing of the community. The BFRP is working to address the complex challenges facing Burkina Faso, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict, and the resulting displacement of people. The program's focus on income generation activities, ID documents, and community services is critical to mitigating the destabilizing effects of continued violence and insecurity in the region.