Burkina Faso Regional Program BI-WEEKLY REPORT May 9-22, 2020

Promoting social cohesion during Ramadan is a key objective of the program. In the Est region, BFRP worked with a platform of civil society organizations to bring together religious leaders and facilitate dialogue on reducing suspicion and breaking stereotypes in their communities. This effort involved organizing Iftar meals, where leaders shared a meal together and discussed the importance of peace, solidarity, and social cohesion. The resulting dialogue encouraged actions aimed at denouncing violent extremism in the Eastern region. Community solutions to reduce livestock theft in the Sahel region are also a focus of the program. Extremist groups have been stealing large numbers of livestock from communities across the Sahel, which represents a significant loss for local herders. To address this issue, BFRP worked with a regional NGO to organize a workshop with 50 livestock herders and municipal and community authorities. Participants developed collective strategies to address challenges faced by herders and their communities, including organizing regular consultation meetings, strengthening collaboration and information sharing between locals, herders, and security forces, and creating local organizations to fight against animal theft. The program's efforts in promoting social cohesion and addressing livestock theft have been met with positive feedback from community members. In the Est region, religious leaders have praised the initiative for bringing them together and encouraging dialogue on reducing suspicion and breaking stereotypes. In the Sahel region, herders have expressed gratitude for the program's efforts in addressing livestock theft, which has had a significant impact on their local economy. The program's approach of involving all stakeholders in finding lasting solutions has been recognized as key to minimizing the negative effects of these phenomena. The BFRP's bi-weekly report highlights the program's progress in promoting social cohesion and addressing livestock theft. The report notes that the program's efforts have been successful in bringing together religious leaders and facilitating dialogue on reducing suspicion and breaking stereotypes in the Est region. In the Sahel region, the program has made significant progress in developing collective strategies to address livestock theft, including organizing regular consultation meetings and creating local organizations to fight against animal theft. The program's geographic focus is on the Est, Nord, and Sahel regions of Burkina Faso, where continued violence and insecurity pose significant challenges to local communities. The program's timeframes are not specified in the report, but the bi-weekly report suggests that the program is ongoing and continues to make progress in promoting social cohesion and addressing livestock theft. The program's recommendations for future action are not specified in the report, but the program's approach of involving all stakeholders in finding lasting solutions suggests that continued collaboration and dialogue will be key to addressing these challenges.