Gender-related inequalities and the actual non-recognition of the role of women in rural development, together with the need to contribute to improving the food security of the populations of Burkina Faso, are the issues on which the project intends to act. Inequalities between the sexes are one of the causes that negatively impact human development and declines 4 categories of determining factors: socio-cultural, legal, institutional and technical.

These 4 factors are even more relevant in rural contexts, where 46.7% of the population lives below the minimum acceptable threshold. This vulnerability is accentuated by climatic uncertainty, the volatility of prices on the markets, the reduced organizational skills of producers, as well as the limited access to means of production, rural credit and market opportunities.

The general objective of the project was to contribute to food security, favoring the full inclusion of women in socio-economic development processes within families and peasant organizations, and strengthening the capacities of rural populations and their access to the means of production in areas at risk of desertification.

• Organization of conferences and meetings in the villages, radio broadcasts in the local language and theatrical performances on the importance of the role of women in the economic management of families.
• Training course managed in groups of 15-20 people. Investment planning skills for agricultural activities have been developed.
• Development of a revolving fund system aimed at supporting women’s economic activities. The beneficiaries have undertaken to return 50% of the value of the materials received, within the time frame and in the manner that depend on the activity identified, thus constituting a revolving fund for the purchase of materials to be delivered to other women.
• Introduction of improved seeds, promoting reproduction and selection models involving 60 farmers and with the distribution of 2 tons of improved seeds.
• Construction and start-up of 4 stores. Equipped with a revolving fund, they buy wholesale and then sell retail (seeds, fertilizers and small agricultural tools). The shop will also be able to sign contracts for the supply of inputs on credit, which farmers will then undertake to repay in cash or in kind during the harvest period.
• Recovery, development of 40 hectares of marginal land for production purposes.
• Creation and equipment of laboratories for the transformation of raw materials.
• Support for provincial storage networks.
• Training on agro-ecology techniques aimed at mitigating desertification: 30 seminars, 10 school camps.