The USAID-funded Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel–Accelerated Growth Project (REGIS-AG) was launched in 2015 as part of USAID’s Resilience in the Sahel Enhanced (RISE) initiative. REGIS-AG is designed to increase the incomes of vulnerable households by increasing the performance and inclusiveness of the cowpea, poultry and small ruminant value chains and thereby increase resilience in selected agro-pastoral and marginal agricultural zones of Niger and Burkina Faso.

REGIS-AG is focused on the Tillabéri-Sud, Maradi and Zinder regions of Niger and three départements of north-eastern Burkina Faso, specifically Dori, Kaya, and Fada (Figure 1). Taking a value chain approach, REGIS-AG works with producers, input suppliers, transporters and other marketers, and processors, linking with national officials and with partner projects to spur development of profitable markets.

The work on this small ruminants value chain analysis was begun in April 2015, consisting of extensive literature review and participatory field work in Niger and Burkina Faso to understand constraints and opportunities, relationships, governance dynamics, and the enabling environment, with an important focus on understanding the role and constraints affecting vulnerable populations, especially women and children.