Our partner organizations in Burkina Faso are increasingly contending with a surge in terrorist violence. This takes the form of unidentified armed individuals traversing the majority of project regions, irregular checks on rural routes, armed assaults resulting in casualties, and instances of kidnapping. The ramifications are extensive, involving the displacement of project beneficiaries, the inability to access specific project regions, and challenges in ensuring the well-being of those involved in the project. Monitoring project activities has become intricate, often necessitating remote communication via telephone. Concrete examples underscore the gravity of the situation: one of our partner organizations had to resort to a humanitarian flight to attend a workshop in the capital, Ouagadougou, due to the elevated risks associated with land travel. Additionally, a coordinator from another organization in the “Centre-Nord” recently experienced an armed terrorist attack during a bus journey.
As a development cooperation organization, we are increasingly recognizing the imperative of incorporating humanitarian initiatives into our strategies to achieve our goals. We are constantly questioning the extent to which and how our efforts can be enhanced, reflecting the concept of the triple nexus. We noticed that our projects supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs) present significant potential. Many of our project partners are concurrently executing small-scale humanitarian endeavors aimed at aiding IDPs. The primary objective is to enhance food security and fortify livelihoods, thereby bolstering the resilience of those affected. This involves providing support to households through income-generating initiatives, educational initiatives, and the distribution of various material kits – such as those for soap production intended for sale.
Fostering social cohesion serves as an additional strategy to fortify resilience. This involves the establishment of savings groups or community fields, along with the implementation of conflict-sensitive measures such as the “Do No Harm Approach”. We are currently testing a training program focused on psycho-social support for all project staff. Additionally, Fastenaktion has organized a first-aid course for coordinators and project managers in collaboration with the Burkina Faso Red Cross.
In the realm of peacebuilding initiatives, we collaborate closely with partner organizations to foster community engagement. We meticulously examine potentially volatile situations to proactively identify any adverse repercussions stemming from project activities. This is particularly important with regard to the inclusion of IDPs in our projects. The exclusive focus of humanitarian aid on IDPs may inadvertently marginalize host communities, potentially fueling tensions and conflicts. To mitigate this risk, our strategy revolves around simultaneous support for both host communities and IDPs in both long-term development projects and select humanitarian endeavors. Our aim is to encourage collaboration between these groups, fostering a harmonious coexistence.
In view of the current situation, we are facing major challenges and see the need to combine humanitarian measures, peacebuilding, and development cooperation as part of the triple nexus approach. Accordingly, we will have to continue to demonstrate flexibility and innovation in the design and implementation of projects. After all, it is difficult to predict how the security situation in the region will develop in the future.