The Hunger Project-Burkina Faso Country Report 2013 Executive Summary The Hunger Project in Burkina Faso started its second half of the year 2012 by hosting the Africa Conference, which welcomed staff from all eight African Programme Countries, a total of 33 participants. The staff present from each country included the Country Director, the National Programme Officer, the Finance Officer and the three Partnership Building and Resource Mobilisation Officers (PBRMOs). This conference marked the launch of several strategic changes for the department, including the identification of priority Epicentres. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Africa Conference The event was followed by a busy six months of programme activities, with an emphasis on health, nutrition and food security. Accomplishments Health and Nutrition: Medical consultations were organised in Yegueresso, Kouy, Bissiga and Fetombaga Epicentres. These consultations were held in collaboration with health institutions from a variety of nearby centres. Doctors provided preventive care, such as blood pressure testing and drew large numbers of patients hoping to take advantage of this free service. Food Security: Training in the areas of new technology took place, namely bio-digesters and the use of organic manure. These are both waste-management techniques as well as renewable energy sources. Mass Medical Consultation The bio-digester is created through the construction of a manure pit for animal manure, with connecting pits. This innovative technology provides energy for electricity, cooking fuel and organic fertiliser. Bio-digesting also promotes increased agricultural production thanks to the animal manure fermentation, which results in a better organic fertiliser rather than ordinary manure and agro-industrial products. It provides a new, sustainable energy source for households that use oil or wood for cooking and lighting, decreasing energy costs and the time burden on women and children to gather fuel. Burkina Faso Report to the Global Board (May 2013) Page 1 of 6
Lastly, this alternative energy source pollutes less than traditional fuels, providing a better family life environment inside the household. The production of organic manure began in the fourth quarter of 2012. Challenges Capacity Building: One challenge faced by The Hunger Project in Burkina is strengthening the skills of committee members in order for them to have a good foundational understanding of how to reach self-reliance (sustainability). The focus of these trainings will be on identifying specific actions that can be initiated and executed in order for them to reach self-reliance. The Hunger Project s National Office will give strong support over the next three years in order to develop projects and partnerships for technical and financial support. Researching Fundraising Opportunities: Finding fundraising opportunities that fit within the priorities, framework and strategy of The Hunger Project is a challenging task. In order to tackle this task, we plan on using local and regional level funding opportunities as well as national and international partnerships in order to find a variety of partners. Lessons Learned Health & Nutrition: Activities targeting the identification and monitoring of malnutrition cases have experienced a few difficulties in several Epicentres, mainly due to staff resignations. This resulted in the added activities of recruiting new supervisors and training them. Currently, new supervisors have started their work after extensive training, hence putting back on track the activities from this programme area. Burkina Faso Report to the Global Board (May 2013) Page 2 of 6
Country by Numbers 0 Epicentres in Phase 1 (Mobilisation) 0 Epicentres in Phase 2 (Construction) 10 Epicentres in Phase 3 (Progress) 5 Epicentres In Phase 4 (Self-Reliant) 15 TOTAL *All data presented herein is taken directly from the internal online M&E System, updated quarterly by Programme Country M&E Officers. The Global Office works continuously with each M&E Officer to audit and verify this data. Note: SA refers to semi-annual. SA1=Quarter 1 + Quarter 2 SA2=Quarter 3 + Quarter 4. M&E = monitoring and evaluation Community Mobilisation Burkina Faso Report to the Global Board (May 2013) Page 3 of 6
Education: Nursery School & Meal Programme Burkina Faso Report to the Global Board (May 2013) Page 4 of 6
Partner Story My name is Bella Habibou, resident of the village of Boulkon, from the township of Arbolé. I am 41 years old. We are in August 2012 and it is the lean period. I ve come to buy grains for my family at the food bank of the Epicentre. The rain has not been sufficient during the past season so harvests were bad and the small quantity of grain we had, we consumed within six months 1. I went to the market but I found no grain to buy and the seller told me his stock had emptied one week ago. At the same time, the epicentre committee gave information to the community of the partner villages that at the Epicentre s food bank, they will proceed to sell grain at fair prices and on credit that is reimbursable as soon as the first harvest is acquired. That s the reason I ve come to buy some. I realised that the suggested price was half as expensive and in addition to that I also had the possibility of having it on credit. I a100 kg bag of grain and that could help me to make it to the period of early harvesting of maize and soya. Taking this situation into account, the government had also provided food stocks at reduced prices, but the quantity was insufficient. Facing this situation, we recognise the necessity of the food bank for our population and this comforts us. We also recognise the importance of the installation of the community fields and the construction of food banks in other villages. We once more thank The Hunger Project, and all its partners for this priceless support for the populations achievement of food security. 1 If the rain season was good, the expected harvest could last a full year for a family of six. Burkina Faso Report to the Global Board (May 2013) Page 5 of 6
Partnerships, Advocacy and Events National Recognition of The Hunger Project- Burkina Faso: During this quarter, we were recognised at a ceremony honouring The Hunger Project, hosted by the authorities of the East-Centre Region of Burkina Faso. This ceremony recognised activities that took place in Bissiga and Vowogdo Epicentres, with specific recognition of successful implementation of the AGRA Project 2. The ceremony took place in Tenkodogo (Central town of the East- Centre Region) during the celebration Evariste Yaogho, Country Director of THP- Burkina, with Bissiga s women s group present for the celebration of the 52 nd anniversary of the Independence of Burkina Faso on 11 December 2012. It brought together three provinces (Koupela, Boulgou, Koulpelogo). Military and civil parades were held, followed by the decorations and cultural shows. Africa Conference: Media coverage was present at the opening ceremonies of the Africa Conference, which Burkina Faso hosted in July 2012. The national and private press covered the event, which took place in Ouagadougou 2-7 July 2012.The opening ceremonies of the Conference were attended by: 1. Madam, the Minister of Women and Gender Promotion 2. Sir, the Minister for Scientific Research and Innovation 3. Delegate Minister, Ministry of Agriculture 4. Sir, the Director of the INERA (Agricultural Research & Environment Institute) 5. Madam the Director of the NGO Oversight Department 6. Members of the National Advisory Council of THP-Burkina 7. Sir, the Vice-President of The Hunger Project Africa Department 8. Members of the Global Office 9. The eight Country Directors from THP s African Programme Countries and members of their staff. Future Plans Building and reinforcing the capacity of committee members in the framework of selfreliance for priority Epicentres. Reinforcing the capacity of The Hunger Project staff in certain technical trainings. Finding local funding opportunities at the local and regional levels. Read more about our work in Burkina Faso and support our work with a gift to end hunger! 2 The AGRA Project funds activities such as microdose technology and other agricultural activities, including warrantage and village shops, which are income-generating activities based on agricultural activities. This leads to increased food security. The AGRA project covers six provinces across three Epicentres in Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso Report to the Global Board (May 2013) Page 6 of 6