For women in rural Burkina Faso, earning an income and supporting their community is crucial to countering threats from violent extremist organizations (VEOs). Tangaye is a rural commune best known for its peppers, located near the Malian border. Since 2016, VEOs have incited violence and disrupted production and commercial activities in Tangaye. Activities managed by women, such as agriculture, livestock husbandry, and small-scale market gardening are all income-generating activities that have been impacted by the violence.

In response, USAID/OTI’s Burkina Faso Regional Program (BFRP) partnered with a local community development organization called the Association Progressons Ensemble (APE) to train 50 women, a majority of whom were young and from villages across Tangaye. Women learned techniques to diversify and make high-quality products, expanding their reach to new markets. 

Women also learned techniques to enable them to earn more income and offer an alternative to the lure of financial incentives that VEOs offer when they target community members in recruitment efforts. APE also used this opportunity to raise women’s awareness on how to adapt their activities to counter VEOs influence. All of the participants who were interviewed said they experienced an increase in their income after the training because they were able to improve the quality of their processed flour. In addition to the marketing and financial management techniques they learned, women have been able to attract new customers by honing their customer service skills. These women confirmed that they now have a daily income ranging from XOF 5,000 and 10,000, compared with a maximum of 2,000 FCFA before the training. With higher incomes, women feel more empowered to care and provide for their families — reducing the stress on their partners and older children to contribute financially. This income is crucial for families living in harsh conditions and where violence can happen at any moment.

“For this school year, I was able to buy some textbooks and pens for my children thanks to the income gained from the products I sold. Through this, I also contribute to the daily food and needs of the children and family,” said Mrs. Ouedraogo, who is now using improved flour-processing techniques. 

This activity impacted not only the beneficiaries but also the local consumers who now have access to quality products in their neighborhood, reducing the  risks associated with travelling to and from Ouahigouya on market days. Now that quality flour is now found in the local market, the money that consumers saved in travel costs has contributed to the financial resilience of these consumers as well.