Resilience in Burkina Faso: When production systems bring together internally displaced people and their hosts in Fada N’Gourma

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The security situation in Burkina Faso has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people in the country. In addition to the government, associations, NGOs and kind people will also provide assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs). The Fada N’Gourma Rural Community Development Association (ADCV) has launched a project that allows these displaced people and their hosts to work in the same garden.

The sun is at its highest point on Monday, July 22, 2024. In the 9th district of the town of Fada N’Gourma, there is a field where we can see several people plowing the land. It is a garden, the result of a project coordinated by the Association for the Development of Rural Communities (ADCV).

Dramane Ludovic Thiombiano, General Manager of ADCV, said that they have launched the project with their partner the World Food Program (WFP) since 2023. “The conditions are to accommodate 120 people, including 60 host families and 60 IDPs (internally displaced persons),” he told us.

However, he wished to point out that it was the Ministry of Social Action that drew up the list of internally displaced persons, since in Burkina Faso the ministry responsible for social action was the only one with the authority to designate who were internally displaced persons.

*Dramane Ludovic Thiombiano explains that ADCV no longer chooses to provide aid to the vulnerable; she prefers to help them thrive through work*

The project aims to enable vulnerable groups to achieve self-governance. “In addition to helping these people immediately, we are also worried about what will happen to them in a month, six months, a year or two years. It would be better to include them in the production system,” revealed the head of the association, which also aims to achieve food self-sufficiency for the most vulnerable groups.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHARFy8fRCM

“There are a lot of people looking for food”

As with many works, the first step was not accepted by everyone. “In the beginning, it was not easy because there was opposition to giving part of the land to internally displaced persons,” recalls Draman Ludovic Tiombiano.

Lamonia Thiombiano is a landowner. According to his testimony, he did not hesitate to donate part of his land to this project, which he considered noble. “Giving the land was a personal decision, without any negotiation. I gave it voluntarily. I understand that it is difficult. There are many people looking for food,” said the man who bequeathed his two hectares of land.

*Lamonia Thiombiano is happy to give up her land for the benefit of all*

From now on, IDPs and indigenous people work together in this garden. David Diakouna left his hometown of Matiakoali, a rural commune in the Gourma governorate. Currently, he lives in the 12th district of the town of Fada N’Gourma. He is one of the beneficiaries of the association’s project. For him, it is a response to the difficult situation he lives in. “We are happy because ADCV helps us. Thanks to ADCV, we can work, earn money, eat.” The current vegetable garden owner is happy.

No more water problems

The harmony in this garden is the result of the coordination work of the project’s initiators. Nestor Thiombiano has been on the Complaints Committee for a year. He explains his role: “Our job is to bring people together so that we can speak the same language, live in harmony and work together.” He remembers that at first complaints were mainly about the water supply. But this rainy season, there will be no more such complaints, he assures us.

*Nestor Thiombiano said the beneficiaries have a good working atmosphere*

ADCV is a non-profit association under the laws of Burkina Faso, with its headquarters in Tambiga and administrative headquarters in Fada N’Gourma, Gourma province, Eastern region of Burkina Faso.

Founded in 1997 and officially recognized in 2002, the Association’s mission is to mobilize resources to contribute to the development of rural communities and improve the living conditions of vulnerable groups.