USAID Yidgiri FY20 Annual Report

Despite these challenges, the program efficiently mobilized resources for operational start-up, implemented formative refinement period research, established important partnerships with stakeholders, and began implementation of programmatic activities that will build resilience to the impacts of this increasingly volatile context. A total of 84 demonstration plots were established in the Centre-Nord region to strengthen producers' technical capacity and promote improved production technologies. Twelve Farmer Field days were organized, reaching 2,013 people, including 1,601 women. The program conducted a survey of provincial and communal unions as well as Producer Organizations to assess their current level of performance and identify capacity building needs. The results of this assessment will inform FY21 work planning priorities. A total of 208 new Producer Organizations were identified in Centre Nord communes not covered by the predecessor activity, REGIS-AG. These new POs will receive USAID Yidgiri support. The team identified 34 new potential buyers in the targeted value chains, including institutional buyers, hotels, traders, and buyers in the small ruminants value chain. Seven livestock markets were pre-selected for Yidgiri support. The program developed a flier on best practices for fodder production and processing, which will be used in producer trainings. The methodology and data collection for the Market and Nutrition (M&N) Pathway Assessment were designed and launched. Yidgiri established strong collaboration with stakeholders, donor-funded programs, and private sector actors. Six Memoranda of Understanding were signed with unions, including two with Directorates in Charge of Agriculture and Livestock, and one with the Fédération des Caisses Populaires du Burkina (FCPB). Yidgiri organized several meetings with RISE II implementing partners, private sector actors, and government stakeholders. The Yidgiri nutrition team joined the UN Nutrition Cluster and the ANJE-Prevention sub-group in May 2020. Project management activities focused on administrative and operational matters, as well as Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL). Yidgiri recruited 43 staff, including the consortium lead CNFA and consortium members CARE, GRAD, and A2N. Health and safety measures were implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including teleworking, hygiene measures, social distancing, and health protocols. Security assessments were conducted on the overall security situation in the zone of intervention and the security in the regional office of Kaya and sub-offices of Kongoussi and Boulsa. The recommendations were compiled in a Security and Safety Action Plan. Yidgiri staff was trained on safety and security awareness. A Conflict Sensitivity Advisor was engaged to support the development of key deliverables and build staff capacity in considering the nuances between security and conflict-sensitivity in project implementation. Yidgiri developed its Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP), which was submitted initially to USAID on May 15. The final version for USAID review and approval was submitted on September 11.