Burkina Faso

Following the capacity-building workshop organised in Bamako by CORAF and the Bioversity International and CIAT Alliance, as part of the Accelerating the Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project, stakeholders from the Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) strengthened their capacities on the implementation of Climate Intelligent Villages (CIVs). Following this training, FSRP Burkina Faso (FSRP-BF) held a national feedback workshop in Manga, from 30 September to 4 October 2024, to draw up an action plan for the implementation of VICs in the country.

The event, which brought together researchers, meteorological experts, NGO representatives and players from the agro-sylvo-pastoral sector, was marked by the participation of Dr Robert Zougmore, Programme Director of AICCRA, Alliance Bioversity and CIAT. The main objective was to provide the PRSA-BF with a concrete action plan for integrating ICVs into its intervention zones, based on the pilot experience of the climate-smart village of Ouda, in the Centre-Sud region.

Climate Smart Villages: a promising approach

The VIC approach, initially introduced by the CCAFS programme, has proved promising for the development of climate-smart technologies and innovations in West Africa. It promotes a participatory approach to the development of solutions adapted to climate change, integrating technological, institutional and socio-economic innovations, as well as climate-smart policies.

The Manga workshop provided an opportunity to consolidate knowledge of ICVs, particularly with regard to the formulation and implementation of this approach. A field trip to Ouda enabled participants to observe the concrete benefits of climate-smart technologies, such as the use of improved seeds, organic manure and biopesticides, as well as agroclimatic services. Discussions with the Ouda community illustrated how these technologies are helping to improve people's resilience in the face of climatic hazards and to increase agricultural yields.

A participatory approach to developing an ICV action plan for FSRP-BF

During the three-day workshop, participants worked on drawing up an action plan for implementing ICV in Burkina Faso. Discussions focused on the selection of pilot villages, land tenure security, institutional set-up, and the identification of stakeholders and risks. It was agreed to set up four VICs: one in the Kou sub-basin, one in the Sirba, and two in the Lower Mouhoun.

The action plan drawn up includes a detailed timetable and an operational mechanism that will be incorporated into the 2025 Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) of the PRSA-BF, once it has been validated by the World Bank. This plan marks a decisive step towards the adoption of climate-smart solutions and reinforces the PRSA-BF's commitment to promoting the resilience of rural communities through the dissemination of climate-adapted technologies.

Tangible results and a promising outlook

The workshop's objectives were fully achieved, providing the PRSA-BF with a strategic framework for implementing ICVs in its intervention zones. The success of this approach should enable the results of the PRSA-BF to be amplified, by contributing to the achievement of indicators linked to the dissemination of climate-smart technologies and the resilience of food systems.

In summary, the Climate Smart Village initiative in Burkina Faso is part of a broader strategy to position rural communities on a sustainable path towards food and nutrition security, while incorporating the principles of integrated landscape management and climate-smart agriculture. The results achieved in Manga augur a promising future for climate resilience in Burkina Faso and beyond.

The onion sector is enjoying remarkable growth in Burkina Faso. In recent years, national onion production has grown significantly, propelling this market garden crop to the top of the country’s agricultural production list. This expansion has made Burkina Faso the second-largest onion exporter in West Africa, behind Niger.

Between 2011 and 2012, Burkina Faso exported around 36,100 tonnes of onions, with growth in value of 24% between 2009 and 2013. Onion cultivation currently covers more than 11,000 hectares, involving some 15,000 growers and generating substantial income for those involved in the sector.

In this context, the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP-BF) is positioning itself as a key player in strengthening this dynamic. Recently, the FSRP’s National Coordination in Burkina Faso organised a regional consultation workshop for players in the bulb onion sector in the Centre-South region. The event brought together nearly 70 participants, including producers, traders and technical and financial partners, to discuss the vision and strategies to be put in place. The main objectives of the workshop were (i) to present the Centre-Sud bulb onion innovation platform; (ii) to share the content of the platform’s three-year action plan; (iii) to advocate for funding of the plan from partners; (iv) to present the platform’s vision and strategies.

With the support of the FSRP-BF, the platform aims to triple onion production in the region, from 14,607 to 43,821 tonnes by 2027. This ambitious objective is focused on producing competitive onions, both in terms of quantity and quality, for the national and sub-regional markets.

Despite challenges such as the lack of inputs, storage infrastructure and marketing difficulties, the sector continues to grow. The FSRP-BF’s support, through its structuring initiatives and accompanying actions, is strengthening the capacity of producers and all stakeholders to deal with these obstacles.

With better organisation and structuring, the onion sector in Burkina Faso is well positioned to play a decisive role in the local and regional economy, while contributing to food security and improving farmers’ living conditions.

On 20 March 2024 in Ouagadougou, stakeholders and implementing partners of the West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) in Burkina Faso were briefed on measures to combat sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

From the FSRP regional implementation offices and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Resources and Fisheries, 30 agents were given training on measures relating to sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment (EAS/HS) as well as gender-based violence to facilitate the implementation of the FSRP.

These measures are intended to help promote gender equality, protect the rights of women and girls, and combat sexual harassment and gender-based violence among the actors and implementing partners as well as the target populations of the PRSP.

In its implementation in countries, FSRP carries out actions that include the construction of numerous infrastructures, such as buildings and productive facilities. These activities involve many people of all categories, in particular men, women, and young people. From this point of view, the implementation of the FSRP is likely to give rise to social and environmental risks, particularly the risk of trafficking in women for the purposes of prostitution, the risk of forced early marriage, etc. It was therefore necessary to train the stakeholders involved in the implementation of the programme to avoid any inconveniences likely to hamper its implementation.

FSRP has been implemented in Burkina Faso since 2022, with funding estimated at FCFA 72.5 billion, and aims to improve the living conditions of nearly 100,000 households, or 650,000 people, in seven regions: Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-East, Centre-West, Centre-South, East, Hauts-Bassins and North.