Burkina Faso

Agriculture and the rural sector employ more than 90% of the population in this Sahelian country located in West Africa. Despite this, malnutrition affects a big part of the population, especially children under five.

Since the end of 2008, Burkina Faso has faced severe drought in several regions. This situation is aggrevated by the insecurity with terrorist attacks and inter-community violence since 2016. The displacement of populations reduces access to quality food and basic services including WASH and deteriorating infant and young child feeding practices, resulting in high levels of malnutrition.

Access to water

Drought and violence reduce the harvest of farmers. The insufficient number of boreholes and taps in rural areas affects the access to water for villages. In 2018, only 16.4% of the population had access to sanitation in the family house (according to the statistic yearbook of the Ministry of Water and Sanitation).

Daily reality

Although there have been improvements thanks to the efforts of the State and its partners, malnutrition rates are still the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the chronically low production in some regions (such as the North Centre and the North) due to climatic variations makes food insecurity a daily reality for many people.

Population displacements

This food insecurity situation, in addition to the terrorist attacks, has led to numerous population displacements and the closure of several health facilities in conflict zones. According to OCHA, by the end of May 2021 1.2 million people have been displaced, of which 61% of them are children. In insecure areas, 76 health centres were closed and 245 health centres reduced their services. More than 822,000 people are affected by this situation.

The numbers in Burkina Faso

18 %

of children are underweight

37 %

of the rural population does not have access to drinking water

25 %

of all children are stunted

9 %

of all children suffer from global acute malnutrition

Right2Grow in Burkina Faso

Right2Grow will be implemented over five years in the Center-North, North, and East regions of Burkina Faso. The partnership will ensure that civil society and government jointly tackle malnutrition in a gender-sensitive and inclusive manner, especially among children. This will involve changing the mindsets and practices of communities through nutrition and strengthening the capacities of CSOs and influencing governance.

This goes through:

increased public awareness,
capacity building and engagement of CSOs in civic space,
the influence of government and municipal programmes through CSO advocacy,
improved multisectoral coordination of nutrition / WASH actors.

"Undernutrition in children makes me get up and work hard every day"

Save the Children

Fights to realize the children's rights. For the R2G project, Save the Children coordinates the consortium and represents R2G to strategic partners such as the State of Burkina Faso and the Embassy of the Netherlands.

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The RESONUT (SUN civil society network for nutrition)

This group consists of 37 CSOs that work for the population nutrition well-being in Burkina Faso.

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Association Monde Rural (AMR)

Was created and recognized in 1996. Its vision is 'a rural world that knows its rights, works for their effectiveness. and participate fully in development actions'.

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Action Against Hunger

Fights against the causes and effects of hunger, to improve the most vulnerable families with access to water, food and health, since 2008 in Burkina Faso.

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The Hunger Project (THP)

Started its activities in 1997 with the mission to eradicate chronic hunger and abject poverty by the implementation of sustainable development strategies.

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Center for Economic Governance and Accountability in Africa (CEGAA)

Works to build, in particular by empowering civil society, supporting parliamentarians, through training or capacity building on the budget process and monitoring.

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