Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel - Enhanced Resilience

The project is a cooperative agreement between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and NCBA CLUSA, with the goal of enhancing resilience in the Sahel region. The project's geographic focus includes the Tillaberi Region in Niger and the Sahel and Est regions in Burkina Faso. REGIS-ER's sustainability strategy aims to place local institutions in the driver's seat for resilience activities. The project has made significant progress in this area, with Municipal Councils in 12 of the 13 communes of concentration completing the preparation of their Commune Resilience Plans. These plans serve as the operational reference for taking ownership of resilience activities and as a tool for resource mobilization. The Municipal Councils have also improved their capacity to provide services to their communities and guide them on the path to resilience. The project has also seen significant progress in the development of local institutions, including Citizen Working Groups (CWGs) and Local Development Committees/Village Development Councils (CLDs/CVDs). These groups have shown dynamism in continuing successful activities, such as conservation farming, mother-to-mother groups, and water services. REGIS-ER has continued to support the efforts of CWGs in gaining official recognition and has developed a guide on how to develop and implement a realistic resource mobilization strategy. The project has also made progress in strengthening the capacity of local resource persons and village development councils. REGIS-ER has provided coaching and training to these individuals, which has improved their visibility and availability, as well as the accessibility of their products and services in communes and communities. REGIS-ER has also been affected by the deteriorating security situation in Burkina Faso. The project was able to operate normally in only one of its six communes of concentration, and access to that commune remained more difficult than prior to September 2018. The security situation required REGIS-ER field teams to adjust their operating mode and adapt their activities to ensure the safety of their staff and the communities they serve. The project has also prepared for its withdrawal from the regions not covered by the Cost Extension (CE) and has begun preparations for its transition to the CE phase in the Sahel, Est, and Tillaberi regions. REGIS-ER has submitted a revised FY19 work plan to USAID and has scheduled a training on Positive Youth Development (PYD) for project staff. The project has also strengthened its performance indicators and developed new data collection tools to ensure good quality and reliable data for reporting. The project has achieved significant results in its sustainability strategy, including the completion of Commune Resilience Plans by Municipal Councils and the development of local institutions. REGIS-ER has also made progress in strengthening the capacity of local resource persons and village development councils and has adapted its activities to adapt to the deteriorating security situation in Burkina Faso.