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Annual Results Report November 5, 2013 (Revised May 5, 2014) ACDI/VOCA – Burkina Faso

U.S. Agency for International Development

Bureau of Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance

Office of Food for Peace

Annual Results Report

ACDI/VOCA – BURKINA FASO

___________________________________________________________

Award Number: Cooperative Agreement No. AID-FFP-A-11-00005

____________________________________________________________

Submission Date: November 5, 2013 (Revised May 5, 2014)

Applicable Fiscal Year: FY 2013

Awardee HQ Contact Name Robert Rosengren – Program Manager

Awardee HQ Contact Address

ACDI/VOCA

50 F Street NW, Suite 1075

Washington, DC 20001, USA

Awardee HQ Contact Telephone Number 1-202-469-6094

Awardee HQ Contact Fax Number 1-202-469-6257

Awardee HQ Contact Email Address [email protected]

Host Country Office Contact Name Amidou Kabore – Chief of Party

Host Country Office Contact Address

ACDI/VOCA – Burkina Faso

Secteur 13, Zone du Bois

Rue 13.4 ; Porte n° 290

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Host Country Office Contact Telephone Number +226-50-36-27-83

Host Country Office Contact Fax Number N/A

Host Country Office Contact Email Address [email protected]


LIST OF ACRONYMS

AGRODIA Association des Grossistes et Détaillants d'Intrants Agricoles

APIL Action pour la Promotion des Initiatives Locales

ARR Annual Results Report

ATAD Alliance Technique d’Assistance au Développement

AZND Association Zood Nooma pour le Développement

BMS Breast Milk Substitute

CBDF Coalition Burkinabè pour les Droits de la Femme

CCM Community Case Management

CG Care Groups

CHA Community Health Agent

CLTS Community Led-Total Sanitation

CMAM Community Management of Acute Malnutrition

CSB Corn-Soy Blend

DPASA Direction Provinciale de l’Agriculture et de la Sécurité Alimentaire

DPRAH Direction Provinciale des Ressources Animales et Halieutiques

EHA Essential Hygiene Actions

FaaFB Farming as a Family Business

FFP Office of Food for Peace

FFS Farmer Field Schools

FY Fiscal Year (October 1st through September 30th)

GMP Growth Monitoring and Promotion

GoBF Government of Burkina Faso

IBFAN International Baby Food Action Network

IYCF Infant and Young Children Feeding

LIP Local Implementation Partner

MoH Ministry of Health

MRAH Ministère des Ressources Animales et Halieutiques

MASA Ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Sécurité Alimentaire

MLA Mother Leaders Animatrice

MPWR Ministry for the Promotion of Women’s Rights

MT Metric Tons

NG Neighborhood Groups

ORS Oral Rehydration Salts

PDQ Partnership Defined Quality

PERSUAP Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan

PLW Pregnant and Lactating Women

PM2A Preventing Malnutrition in Children under Two Approach

SAM Severe Acute Malnutrition


SBC Social Behavior Change

SC Save the Children

SNV Netherlands Development Organization

SO Strategic Objective

UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund

USAID U.S. Agency for International Development

VHCN Village Health and Nutrition Committee

VVV Vaccinateur Volontaire Villageois

ViM Victory against Malnutrition

WASH Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

VO Vegetable Oil

YSP Yellow Split Peas

Annual Results Report November 5, 2013(Revised May 5, 2014)

ACDI/VOCA – Burkina Faso 1

Table of Contents 1. Annual Results Report Narrative .......................................................................................................... 1

A. Introduction: Annual Food Assistance Program Results ................................................................... 1

Strategic Objective 1 (SO1): Increased and Diversified Agricultural Production ........................... 2

IR: 1.1: Producer Groups Strengthened ............................................................................................. 3

IR: 1.2: Smallholder Access to Agricultural Inputs Improved ........................................................... 5

IR: 1.3: Improved Livestock practices adopted ................................................................................... 7

Strategic Objective 2 (SO2): Improved Household Incomes .............................................................. 8

IR: 2.1 Market Linkages Improved ..................................................................................................... 8

IR: 2.2 Access to Business Development Services Improved ........................................................... 10

Strategic Objective 3 (SO4): Reduced Chronic Malnutrition Among Children Under 5 Years of

Age and Pregnant and Lactating Women ........................................................................................... 10

IR 3.1: Improved MCHN Practices .................................................................................................. 10

IR 3.2: Improved Quality of Health Services ................................................................................... 12

IR 3.3: Improved Hygiene and Sanitation Practices ....................................................................... 14

B. Success Story ......................................................................................................................................... 15

C. Lessons Learned ................................................................................................................................... 16

2. Attachments in FFPMIS ....................................................................................................................... 16

D. Indicator Performance Tracking Table ...................................................................................... 16

E. Detailed Implementation Plan ..................................................................................................... 16

F. Expenditure Report ...................................................................................................................... 16

G. Responses to FFP feedback ...................................................................................................... 16

3. FFPMIS Data Entry ............................................................................................................................. 16

H. Monetization Tables .................................................................................................................. 16

I. Standardized Annual Performance Questionnaire (SAPQ)...................................................... 16

J. Beneficiary and Resource Tracking Table ................................................................................. 16



1. Annual Results Report Narrative

A. Introduction: Annual Food Assistance Program Results

In 2011, ACDI/VOCA was awarded a five-year Title II development food assistance program

targeting four communes of the Sanmatenga Province in the Central North region of Burkina Faso.

The Victory against Malnutrition (ViM) project is managed by ACDI/VOCA in partnership with

Save the Children (SC) and the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), with the primary

goal to reduce food insecurity among vulnerable rural populations in Sanmatenga province. Its

activities and intermediate results are designed around three integrated Strategic Objectives (SO):

SO 1: Increased and diversified agricultural production

SO 2: Improved household incomes

SO 3: Reduced chronic malnutrition among children under 5 years of age and pregnant and

lactating women (PLW)

Within these SOs, ViM also addresses the cross cutting issues of gender equity and environmental

stewardship.

This annual results report (ARR) highlights the major activities performed by ViM in fiscal year

(FY) 2013, starting from October 1, 2012 and ending on September 30, 2013. It also details several

of its accomplishments and challenges the program experienced. In FY 13, ViM intensified its

efforts under each of the SOs by extending technical assistance and training toward improving

agricultural and livestock productivity, diversifying production, increasing income earning

opportunities for producers, and strengthening household health and nutrition in the four targeted

communes of Barsalogho, Kaya, Pissila and Namissiguima. ViM also initiated new partnerships

and leveraged its resources with Local Implementation Partners (LIPs), professional organizations,

local service providers, and local government departments toward strengthening local capacity and

building a sustainable approach to assisting beneficiary communities become more resilient in

overcoming food insecurity. Through these partnerships, ViM aligned its various strategies and

plans to promote female participation and leadership as well as environmental stewardship in its

activities. A summary of the key accomplishments and developments for ViM include:

1. Submission of a finalized baseline study;

2. Submission of a Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan (PERSUAP);

3. Completion of a Gender Survey and Strategy documents;

4. Signed sub-agreements with three LIPs in support SO1 and SO2 activities;

5. Training and technical support conducted for 5,971 beneficiary producers, including

3,960 women on sorghum and cowpea production;

6. Execution of 20 agricultural input fairs distributing vital seeds and fertilizers to 5,111

sorghum and cowpea producers, representing 60% of the total targeted number of

beneficiaries;

7. Distribution of agricultural tools to 212 sorghum and cowpea producer groups at 206

Farmer Field School (FFS) sites, constituting 92.5% of total group target;

8. A signed MOU with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MASA) on mutual

collaboration and support for the farmers training in the field and the annual survey;



9. Gender awareness seminars conducted with implementing partners and LIPs on female

participation, leadership and their vital role in food security;

10. Completed FY13 annual survey, inclusive of data and analysis;

11. Distribution of 1,186.2 MT of commodities to 113,157 individual beneficiaries;

12. Sale of 2,078 MT of rice, generating XOF 832,529,200 ($1,668,252) in revenues used

to finance ViM activities;

13. Launch of a communication messaging campaign related to seasonal agriculture topics

through radio and TV broadcasting, theater representations and numerous

sensitizations.

Throughout FY13, ViM continued to develop its relationships and interactions with government

Ministry offices and local authorities, local Non-Governmental Organizations and private sector

groups. This interaction has helped shape program the activities in moving forward. As highlighted

throughout the ARR, ViM works directly with a variety of local stakeholders in planning its

activities, and incorporating their technical insights.

Also during FY 13, ViM encountered several personnel, commodity and local partner challenges

that the project has actively sought to address. The project saw the unexpected departure of two

Deputy Chiefs of Party due to personal and professional reasons, as well as on-going capacity

issues with an M&E Director not meeting performance requirements. A recruitment process was

immediately launched for a new Deputy Chief of Party and M&E Director to replace both key

positions. The project’s food distribution moreover experienced several constraints with

prepackaging, transportation and access of distribution sites during the rainy season, which ViM

is addressing through improved and proactive commodity management practices. Additional

concerns voiced by LIPs regarding the lack of “administrative fees” (equivalent of NICRA) in

their budgets have been openly discussed and regulatory constraints prohibiting the project from

paying administrative fees have been explained to the LIPs.

Owing to delays in the start-up and initial studies that saw the program fall behind schedule, the

key priority for ViM at the end of FY13 remains getting back on track in implementing SO1, SO2

and SO3 activities, and fully operationalizing the care groups to have the most meaningful impact.

ACDI/VOCA and its ViM partners are mindful of these delays, and are closely collaborating with

USAID/Food for Peace (FFP) in Burkina Faso to overcome these in order to achieve the stated

results under its SOs. At the end of FY13, ViM prepared an action plan to catch up by July 2014;

ViM orally discussed elements of this plan with local and regional FFP representatives during their

field visit in September 2013. Discussions with the LIPs related to increase implementation of

certain work are planned for early FY14 and FFP/BF has been invited to participate in during the

month of November.

Key activities accomplished in FY13 are detailed below under each Strategic Objective.

Strategic Objective 1 (SO1): Increased and Diversified Agricultural Production



The implementation of activities under this SO started in March 2013 ViM awarding three sub-

agreements, broken about by commune, to the following LIPs:

1. APIL supporting 127 farmers groups in 50 villages in Pissila;

2. ATAD supporting 147 farmers groups in 70 villages in Kaya;

3. AZND supporting 109 farmers groups in 51 villages in Barsalogho and Namissiguima.

Key achievements under this SO are presented below under each intermediate result (IR).

IR: 1.1: Producer Groups Strengthened

Activity 1.1.1: Identify and organize livelihood producer groups

ViM and LIP staff conducted a rapid participatory assessment of farmer groups and village

volunteer vaccinators (VVV) in the targeted communes. A total of 933 farmer groups were

assessed, comprising 15,081 individual members and 68 identified VVVs. A workshop was

organized to validate and select the producer groups and their members. As selection criteria,

eligible groups are required to be:

Legally recognized in Burkina Faso, under the year-99-014 law of 15 April 1999;

Engaged in activities related to one of the value chains promoted by the ViM project;

Not receiving other outside financial support from another funded program or partner

in the same field of activity;

A functional group (i.e. hold at least 25% of required meetings, have at least 50% of

the following documents: maintain an active members’ register, cash book, activity

book, and inventory book) that is active (i.e. at least 25% of the members paying

membership fees, have planned activities to be implemented in 2013, have carried out

activities in 2012); and

Comprised of members from PM2A eligible households as a priority criterion.

Throughout this process, local government authorities, including MASA and MRAH, participated

in the selection of groups. In total, 383 producer groups were selected, comprising 10,073

members, of which 6,660 are women. Producer groups with PM2A beneficiaries were given

preference in the selection.

Each group was assigned a value chain category supported by the program, depending on its

members’ interest and potential for agricultural growth. The final allotment of groups includes 32

sorghum, 197 cowpea, 70 onion and tomato, 74 small ruminant and 10 poultry for a total of 383.

Activity 1.1.2: Build technical, organization and management capacity of producer groups

In FY13, ViM began technical capacity building of the selected 383 farmers groups through FFS

training. Prior to organizing and implementing this training, ViM developed technical field

training manuals to guide ViM and LIP trainers in training methods and topics, along with their

specific application and accompanied use of field demonstration sites for agriculture and animal

husbandry activities detailed below under activity 1.1.4. These manuals were developed in tandem

with the LIPs and MASA field officers to incorporate relevant field information and experience.

The manuals were then used to strengthen trainers and LIP field officers’ technical knowledge,



preparation and training skills, using a participatory approach, to effectively train the targeted

producer groups throughout the FFS training cycle.

Activity 1.1.3: Provide leadership training for women

In FY13, ViM actively worked on a number of gender awareness initiatives as part of its gender

strategy and action plan. Several examples include ViM’s active role during International

Woman’s Day and its participation in animation events and hosting a local radio show in

collaboration with the Regional Directorate for the Promotion of Women and Gender. These

events promoted economic autonomy for women and also encouraged more participation of

women in leadership roles.

Additionally, ViM worked throughout FY13 to reinforce the important roles and contributions

women make to overall food security. With women comprising approximately 70% of all the

beneficiaries receiving agricultural production inputs under the project, ViM particularly

sponsored a series of awareness events to coincide with the implementation of the agricultural

inputs fairs. These events at fair sites disseminated key awareness messages to both men and

women revolving around "healthy and constructive communication in the household regarding

agricultural activities.” Using theatrical performances, oral messaging, and billboards translated

into the local language “Moore,” the project began sensitizing small groups of male and female

beneficiaries about gender dynamics in food production and the important roles each play in

ensuring household food security. These messages particularly focused on five key aspects:

sharing, respect, confidence, planning and empowerment. The training sessions in the FFS were

also used as an opportunity to provide sensitization to 230 of these beneficiaries on the same topic

based on their leadership role in the groups. It is too soon to measure or evaluate the impact of this

sensitization but the increased number of women participating in the project activities on the field

is an encouraging indication of how men and women are engaging more throughout the

agricultural planning and production process.

Events like these highlight several outcomes intended by the gender assessment and gender

strategy completed in FY13. However, achieving more participation and engagement of various

project actors to strengthen the role of women in food production, ViM has enlisted the support of

the “Coalition Burkinabè pour les Droits de la Femme” (CBDF). Through several planning

meetings, ViM and CBDF explored opportunities for more formal collaboration with CBDF to

intensify the promotion of women’s rights in the project's area of intervention. ViM solicited

technical and training ideas from CBDF through a proposal process to deliver complementary

training services to ViM and its partners starting in FY14. Upon finalizing an agreement, CBDF

will support ViM’s actions to promote women’s rights. Starting in in December 2013, CBDF will

coordinate with the project’s Gender Specialist and the Ministry for the Promotion of Women’s

Rights Regional Directorate in Kaya on the planning of its work. This collaborative effort will

result in developed training modules and materials in line with ViM’s gender strategy. It will be

further used to train both LIPs and project staff in the specific training needed for advancing

female leadership within the project. . In turn, LIP and ViM staff will use their training to conduct

similar exercises in the targeted communities to assist local leaders at that level help integrate and

strengthen women’s leadership roles and participation in agriculture activities supported by the

project. In FY14, ViM expects to continue with these trainings in order to bridge the different roles

and responsibilities played by both men and women toward improving household food security.



Activity 1.1.4: Provide hands-on training and demonstrations of sustainable agricultural

technologies through FFS

An important development for ViM during the implementation year was the launch of FFS

training, at 206 FFS sites in the four targeted communes involving the beneficiaries from the 32

sorghum and 197 cowpea value chain farmers’ groups. These 206 FFS sites, comprising 177 for

cowpea production and 29 for sorghum production, served as actual venues for training farmer

groups on improved agricultural production methods. It should be noted that one FFS site can host

two farmer groups in several cases, which is the reason for the resulting variance between FFS

sites and farmer groups. These FFS trainings introduced new technologies and demonstrated

improved agricultural practices such as use of improved seeds, applying fertilizer, plowing

techniques and suitable cultivation methods for increasing crop yields, improved soil fertility

management and pest safe control techniques to ensure, environmentally safe cultivation. They

were also accompanied by demonstration plots to facilitate practical understanding of the topics

and illustrate practical application of each techniques in a field setting. FFS demonstration sites

and their groups were furnished with improved seeds and fertilizers and agricultural tools under

in-kind agreements with LIPs to support group the training process. By the end of FY13, LIPs had

trained through the FFS, a total of 5,971 producers, including 3,960 women for sorghum and

cowpea, resulting in the increased adoption of the recommended agriculture techniques and

production. ; the annual survey results showed production increase particularly for sorghum.

In addition to sorghum and cowpea FFS training, ViM began pre-planning for market gardening

activities, in particular, organizing producer groups for upcoming FFS training in onion and tomato

production, scheduled to coincide with the seasonal planting calendar. Additionally, training

modules for the FFS were finalized through a series of workshops with LIP, local government

extension personnel and other ViM partners to address the critical and practical nature of the

training. Having validated the materials, FFS trainings for market gardening will start in October

FY14.

By the end of FY 13, a total of 10,073 producers received some level of technical training and

follow up through extension support from program trainers, staff and other individuals trained

under them. These producers comprise those members of sorghum and cowpea groups, as well as

those for onion, tomato and livestock producers being formed or commencing sensitization to

improved production practices.

IR: 1.2: Smallholder Access to Agricultural Inputs Improved

Activity 1.2.1 Link producers to government and private sector input suppliers through a

voucher program

In building farmer access to agricultural inputs, ViM organized 20 agricultural fairs that linked its

producers with agro-dealers through a voucher program. ViM partnered the Association des

Grossistes et Distributeurs d’Intrants Agricole (AGRODIA) to mobilize the participation of

wholesalers and agro-dealers members to supply high quality agricultural inputs at these fairs in

exchange for vouchers for sorghum and cowpea production. These inputs consisted of improved

seeds and fertilizers (NPK and Urea for sorghum and NPK for cowpea) in quantities equivalent to

their voucher to cultivate an area of 0.25 ha to 0.50 ha, depending on the total contribution and



capacity need of the beneficiary. By distributing improved agricultural inputs in kind via local

suppliers, ViM began the first steps of developing market links between beneficiaries and local

agro-dealers. Farmers have also experienced a new opportunity to meet with the agro dealers and

learn how they can access quality inputs as well as they have the vendors contact numbers. These

dealer relationships may eventually serve as a conduit through which the supported producers will

have more established links to the market. Farmers also receive information and additional

instruction during these exchanges with vendors who give additional information on the proper

use of their inputs and best formulated amounts applied for different crops. As the use of higher

quality inputs enhances producer productivity and incomes, their purchasing power rises and

creates more incentives for producers to progressively purchase inputs from local agro-dealers

under their own initiative. This stimulated demand and strengthened tie between the targeted

producers and dealers is not without benefits and challenges. ViM will strengthen these contacts

during the next planned voucher exchanges, while reinforcing and stabilizing the linkages between

small holder producers and agro-dealers as part of an exit strategy.

In total, the voucher program did leverage beneficiary investment and commitment by requiring

all beneficiaries to contribute a cash amount for the agricultural input cost not covered by the

voucher subsidy. Male farmers paid 20% of the input costs whereas female farmers paid 10%. The

contribution amount was reduced from its original level of 40% for both men and women due to

the vulnerable state of the targeted producers and particularly among women producers

underscored in ViM’s baseline survey. The total monetary value of the inputs provided to the

farmers was XOF 110,649,500 ($221,210), of which ViM subsidized XOF 96,060,950 ($192,045)

and the farmers themselves contributed XOF 14,588,550 ($29,165). For FY 14, these percentages

will increase upwards to 30% for men and 20% for women for small garden marketing of onions

and tomatoes and incrementally higher for sorghum and cowpea.

In total, 5,111 direct beneficiaries consisting of 70% women received subsidized agricultural

inputs in FY13. This number, while below the original target of 8,542 due to a programmatic

decision to delay market gardening and voucher input distribution until after farmers harvested

their sorghum, is viewed as a success by the program. However, ViM did fall short on collecting

contributions from 40% of its beneficiaries. These farmers simply could not provide the cash

contribution required due to their vulnerable state. Table 1 provides the total beneficiaries

benefiting from the voucher program, broken out by value chain and surface area of cultivation.

Table 1: Breakdown of beneficiaries for rainy season agricultural inputs fairs

COMMUNES

# OF BENEFICIARIES / VALUE CHAIN

/ SURFACE

TOTAL

# OF BENEFICIARIES / VALUE

CHAIN / SEX

TOTAL Cowpea Sorghum Cowpea Sorghum

0,5 ha 0,25 ha T 0,5 ha 0,25 ha T M W T M W T

PISSILA 1,000 770 1,770 83 75 158 1,928 402 1,368 1,770 65 93 158 1,928



KAYA 622 715 1,337 176 202 378 1,715 386 951 1,337 163 215 378 1,715

BARSALOGHO 615 377 992 6 31 37 1,029 385 607 992 13 24 37 1,029

NAMISSIGUIMA 142 244 386 51 2 53 439 46 340 386 42 11 53 439

TOTAL 2,379 2,106 4,485 316 310 626 5,111 1,219 3,266 4,485 283 343 626 5,111

In total, 23.101 MT of improved seeds and 167.753 MT of fertilizers were purchased during the

input fairs through the exchange of vouchers for inputs to cultivate approximately 4,485 hectares

of land. At the end of the FY 13, ViM through its field survey found that 63% of the targeted

farmer beneficiaries who received this in-kind support from ViM through the FFS and the fairs

were using improved inputs in their fields, compared to the 20% FY13 target. ViM is now

assessing the reasons for this higher than expected uptake of inputs by farmers.

Finally, ViM invited government seed and fertilizer experts to monitor the quality of inputs

exchanged during the fairs. Their participation allowed for a thorough inspection of seeds and

fertilizers at fair sites and a systematic withdrawal of any products deemed unfit. Also, by linking

producers to government and private sector input suppliers through its voucher program and

organized fairs, ViM has started brokering new market opportunities for volume sales since it is

expected that the relationship between farmers and input vendors will progressively strengthen

commercially and the demand will also progressively increase. However, the longer-term viability

of sustaining these links are still evolving and under discussion with stake holders.

IR: 1.3: Improved Livestock practices adopted

Activity 1.3.1: Improved Livestock Production

In FY13, ViM developed a technical manual for animal husbandry to provide relevant technical

support directed at targeted livestock producers raising small ruminants and poultry. It includes a

set of training materials and field methodologies for strengthening the capacities and knowledge

of 2,257 beneficiary herders on improved livestock production. A total of 13 LIP field officers

were trained on critical topics such as animal health and nutrition, herd maintenance, hay and

forage conservation techniques, and animal feed production. Upon completing their training, the

LIP field officers conducted a total of 31 trainings at demonstration sites in the targeted communes.

These trainings and herd demonstrations, however, fell short of their target because of the last start

and several farmers, particularly women, did not have their own animals. It also took longer than

expected to establish the “working groups.” Additionally, budgeted resources allocated for the

activity were stretched to cover the increased cost of supplying livestock materials due to the

higher voucher amount covered under ViM. As a partial solution, ViM needed additional time to

work with local artisans to fabricate drinkers and feeding troughs out of used, empty tins recycled

from vegetable oil tins. However, by the end of FY13, a total of 643 individual livestock producers,

including 436 women, had received field training and technical follow-up in small ruminant and

poultry production. The results of the annual survey show 12.3% of the individual livestock

farmers assisted were actively adopting and using improved animal husbandry techniques,

compared to the 10% target.

Activity 1.3.2: Support Dairy Product Production



In the final quarter of FY13, ViM completed a preliminary study to identify and assess the needs

of the dairy production value chain. The study confirmed that the potential to develop dairy

production exists, and that the production is mainly performed by women. Dairy is still an artisanal

and not a well formalized or organized practrice. Dairy producing households have poor

knowledge in milk collection and handling, while processing and distribution constraints limit

opportunities for diversified growth. Overcoming these weaknesses while tapping into the

potential for dairy in the communes will be more fully addressed in FY14 through the use of a

dairy volunteer specialist. In the mean time, LIPs field officers began last August to identify

functional dairy production units in the communes and possible areas of intervention. Several

existing units have already been identified and once ViM finalizes its identification and assessment

phase, a strategy will be developed in FY14 to support dairy product production in the Sanmatenga

province.

Activity 1.3.3: Provide Institutional Support to MRAH and MRA

As an integral part of ViM’s approach to build government participation, ownership and support

for the project interventions, it has formalized partnerships with several local government bodies

using a variety of means. As part of its grant funding, LIPs are required to sign protocols of

collaboration with the Direction Provinciale de l’Agriculture et de la Sécurité Alimentaire

(DPASA) and livestock Direction Provinciale des Ressources Animales et Halieutiques (DPRAH).

These agreements proved helpful in FY13 by yielding specific government facilitated support of

ViM interventions from DPASA and supplementary support from DPRAH field officers in

implementation of ViM’s agriculture and livestock activities. DPASA and DPRAH are now

contributing important institutional knowledge, experience and support to the program by actively

participating in the agricultural fairs and by helping ViM close the gap in providing services in

targeted intervention areas. Their field officers have assisted in each of the input fairs by

performing the quality control of the seeds and fertilizers sold by vendors and also provided

technical advice to farmers on the appropriate use of the inputs. Twelve of their extension agents

also participated in FFS field training and demonstration activities with LIPs agents, which

reinforces their knowledge and skills and builds a connection with the communities. Lastly, both

heads of DPASA and DPRAH conducted a site visit each quarter to observe the interventions and

collaboration underway with ViM in each of the communes. The collaboration with these two

directorates will intensify in the next fiscal year to build increased support for their role in

supporting the targeted communities. ViM will particularly focus the dialogue on practical

measures both agencies can undertake in sustaining ViM’s work, keeping in mind the project’s

completion in 2016.

Strategic Objective 2 (SO2): Improved Household Incomes

IR: 2.1 Market Linkages Improved

Activity 2.1.1: Train producers in farming as a Family Business (FaaFB)

ViM started to develop its Farming as Family Business (FaaFB) modules using best practices and

lessons learned from a similar activity developed by ACDI/VOCA in Mali. These training modules

are adapted to beneficiaries’ needs in Burkina and intended to train beneficiary farmers on essential

business knowledge and skills to sustain increase of farmers’ productivities / incomes. They also



will help farmers capitalize on increased productivity and how to reinvest in inputs to maximize

their productive growth and market opportunities. FaaFB training will start in FY14.

Activity 2.1.2 Link producer groups to markets

With yields increasing from FFS training and use of improved inputs, ViM is now focused on

strengthening producer links to local markets. Producer groups were identified and selected

according to their crop interests, within one of the targeted value chains. These groups, depending

if they cultivate sorghum and cowpea, were linked by the project to local agro dealers and their

umbrella association, AGRODIA, during the agricultural fairs. ViM facilitated the exchange of

contact information and underscored the reciprocal benefits that could be attained through

affordable access to inputs. While agro-dealers found the profit margins small, the volume of trade

exchanged between producers and agro-dealers can over time lead to profitable outcomes and

greater discounts through volume of sale. This was a very encouraging start for the challenge of

creating a lasting relationship between these stakeholders that will lead to an improved availability

of agricultural inputs at affordable prices for farmers.

Activity 2.1.3: Work with the Ministry for the Promotion of Women’s Rights (MPWR) to

improve land access

ViM finalized its gender strategy and action plan based on the gender study conducted in FY13.

From this exercise and analysis, ViM concluded that men and woman generally have

approximately the similar same level of access to land, although women may have less access to

fertile land or land that is closer to home. The study also identified that the communication between

men and women in households and the leadership roles of women in rural areas are two significant

issues faced by females. From this analysis, ViM has started developing and disseminating key

awareness messages through its FFS training and through the input fairs, to address these issues.

ViM further plans to empower women and facilitate their participation in the production activities

by working with CBDF to conduct more animation and training with producers, and religious,

traditional and community leaders in order to facilitate the participation of women in program

activities using culturally appropriate methods.

Activity 2.1.4: Identify and support non-farm employment and microenterprise opportunities

ViM worked with the LIPs to identify non-farm, micro-enterprise prospects in several of the

targeted communes. Several promising opportunities to diversify and increase household incomes

have been identified and include the manufacture of leather goods, processing of non-timber forest

products (e.g., Soumbala spice), saponification, dyeing, handicraft and other non-descript micro-

enterprises. In early FY14, ViM will conduct a market survey to assess what kind of support could

be provided. Once this assessment is completed, ViM will start supporting non-farm micro-

enterprise opportunities through its LIPs.

Activity 2.1.5: Explore increase of locally produced complementary foods

LIP field Officers identified local indigenous food products that have high nutrition value. These

include: Moringa oliefera leaves and seeds (arzantiiga), Acacia macrostachya seeds (Zamne-38%

protein), Adansonia digitata (Toega – ion) leaves and fruits floor, Balanites aegyptiaca flowers and

fruits (Kieglega); Ziziphus Mauritiana (Mougouna) fruits and Bombax costatum (Voaka) flowers.

ViM began studying the nutritional value of these products while its LIPs continue their field



research. Once the most promising products are identified, ViM will promote their consumption

among targeted beneficiaries particularly children and women in FY 14.

IR: 2.2 Access to Business Development Services Improved

Activity 2.2.1: Improve access to formal credit

ViM will use several possible outlets for possible financial services and link these to project

interventions, which are largely directed at women’s groups Preliminary meetings were held

between ViM and Caisse Populaire, a local microfinance institution operating in Sanmatenga

province. Discussions with Caisse Populaire have thus far yielded potential areas of collaboration

and types of financial services they offer ViM supported groups. Discussions to formalize

collaboration continue into FY14 at which point ViM expects to sign an agreement with Caisse

Populaire to extend financial training and credit services to its beneficiaries in agriculture,

livestock, and non-farm activities.

Activity 2.2.2: Establish Women’s Savings Groups

ViM encountered several delays that interrupted the formation and implmentation of its women’s

savings groups financing. These delays caused the program to fall short in several activities, like

this. In FY13, ViM actually started its first cycle of support directed at producer groups. Therefore,

it was too early to establish women’s savings groups no activities were planned nor conducted

during FY13.

Activity 2.2.3 Improve pricing information

For the same reasons in 2.2.2., ViM fell short in its implemention of this activity. The priority in

FY13 was more of catching up with the seasonal production calendar for agriculture and livestock.

ViM therefore directed most of its efforts toward increasing agriculture and livestock training and

demonstration activities intended to first increase and diversify production. In FY14, improving

access to price information and establishing a price information system that benefits smallholder

informational needs in the targeted value chains will be addressed.

Activity 2.2.4. Integrate childcare concerns into all aspects of ViM

ViM sensitized farmer groups during its voucher program, specifically at input fairs, about

childcare. The messages revolved around five key words: sharing, respect, confidence, planning

and empowerment using theatrical performances, oral messages, and billboards translated into the

local language “Moore.” The project is particularly addressing the issue among its beneficiaries in

order to ensure better participation of women in program activities as well in their individual

attention to food production. Men were particularly encouraged to support women with childcare

responsibilities.

Strategic Objective 3 (SO4): Reduced Chronic Malnutrition Among Children Under 5 Years

of Age and Pregnant and Lactating Women

IR 3.1: Improved MCHN Practices

Activity 3.1.1 Conduct formative research on key health and nutrition practices

No additional formative research was planned for FY13.



Activity 3.1.2 Enact community mobilization and mass communication messaging

A total of 34 participants from the media community were mobilized by ViM to fight against

malnutrition during a one-day advocacy workshop in April 2013. The workshop was followed by

a one-day training provided by ViM WASH facilitators to 22 radio animators and 18 theater actors

on critical knowledge for hand washing and other essential hygiene action messages. Four local

theater troops, between July and September 2013 sensitized communities on hygiene and

sanitation in 19 villages for 4,534 participants including 2,702 women. The project plans to

address keeping soap in the house in upcoming theater group performances.

A total of 728 spots of micro programs and one magazine on hygiene were contracted to local

radio stations and the first micro-program was broadcast 240 times, all in September 2013.

Activity 3.1.3 Establish individual and community SBC through mother leader animatrices

(MLA)

In FY13 26,622 beneficiary mothers were organized into 2,325 neighborhood groups (NG) and

each NG elected one mother leader animatrice (MLA). These 2,325 MLAs were organized into

248 care groups (CG). ViM also developed four care group modules dealing with the following

topics: (1) Roles of Mother leaders; (2) The primary target of VIM health and nutrition project:

Pregnant or lactating women and Children under two; (3) Mother leader attitudes and behaviors;

(4) Use of food rations distributed by the program. CG meetings began in April 2013 and MLAs

reached 9,548 beneficiary1 women during NG meetings, and 14,897 individuals including PLW

during home visits to beneficiary households (4,156 Males and 10,741females). z

Finally, ViM noted that the targeted performance indicator of two meetings a month for CGs to be

active is too high for MLAs. The program proposes to revise this target from two to one meeting

per month to reflect the reality on the field through its IY4 PREP.

Activity 3.1.4 Provide support to children under 2 and PLW through the provision of rations

ViM distributed food rations to 14,747 PLW, 13,247 children (6,720 females and 6,527 males)

and 17,145 households during FY13. The project reached 110% of PLW and 109% of children

from 6 to 23 month. The main constraints revolved around delays in updating the beneficiaries’

lists, the prepackaging operations, transportation and access to distribution sites during rainy

season and also in delays in obtaining required authorizations by Burkina customs. ViM has

worked to limit these constraints by (1) moving prepackaging operations to Ouagadougou, (2)

hiring a new transporter for FY14, (3) doing commodities’ prepositioning for next rainy season

distribution.

Table 2: PM2A Food Direct Distribution from October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013

1 This data is only from July to September 2013 as there was no harmonized reporting tool before that

PLW Children 6-23m Households (June13-Sept13)



The discrepancies are mainly due to the irregularity in food distribution caused by difficulties of

prepackaging due to lack of plastic bags and bottles on the local market, poor transportation, and

limited or difficult access to 18 distribution sites during the rainy season.

IR 3.2: Improved Quality of Health Services

Activity 3.2.1 Provide logistics, training and outreach support for MoH, MCHN service

delivery initiatives ViM provided a vehicle with a driver and fuel to MoH officials for a two-day supervision of

immunization campaigns in April and May 2013, and then again for the supervision of mass

nutritional screening in September 2013. In addition, ViM trained 66 professional health agents

on Community Case Management (CCM) of diarrhea in May 2013. In September 2013, ViM

trained 34 project staff on growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) which will begin in early FY

14.

Activity 3.2.2 Strengthen screening, referral to and training of Community Management of

Acute Malnutrition (CMAM )staff and follow up of SAM cases

During FY13 ViM reinforced the community component of CMAM within its area of intervention

by training 30 program staff in May 2013 and 121 community health agents (CHAs) in June 2013

on screening, referral, and home visit follow-ups. UNICEF provided equipment such as middle

upper arm circumference straps and scales for community based screening. The CHAs screened

2,899 children aged of 6-59 months (1,518 females and 1,381males) of whom 46.8% were ViM

beneficiaries, by September 30, 2013. From this amount, 58 children were found to be

malnourished; about 2% of the children screened.

Activity 3.2.3 Conduct partner defined quality (PDQ) process

ViM had planned to work with a third year Peace Corps volunteer to roll out this activity; but no

activity was conducted since a volunteer with PDQ expertise was not available in Burkina Faso

FY13. In FY14, SC will send a technical expert in Burkina Faso to provide a training of trainers

in PDQ for project and local MoH staff to help them implement this activity.

Activity 3.2.4 Community capacity in community case management (CCM) of diarrheal

disease

VIM trained 30 of its staff members on CCM diarrhea and malnutrition in May 2013. In

collaboration with nurses at primary health centers trained by the program, ViM staff trained 121

CHAs in June 2013 on CCM diarrhea and malnutrition, so that they can be fully operational at the

# Food rations to

be distributed

Commodity in

Metric Tons

# Food rations to

be distributed

Commodity in

Metric Tons

# Food rations to

be distributed

Commodity in

Metric Tons

Planned Actual Planned Actual Planned Actual Planned Actual Planned Actual Planned Actual

YSP 109,722 43,741 164.6 65.6 104,405 41,071 1044.0 410.7

CSB 109,722 43,741 653.9 239.6 112,027 43,778 252.1 98.5

VO 109,722 43,741 50.5 20.1 112,027 43,778 51.6 20.1 104,405 41,071 383.2 150.7



start of the implementation of community-based activities. This activity suffered due to lack of

health inputs (Oral rehydration solution-ORS- and Zinc) at the community level due to a delay

from the Micronutrient Initiative (MI) that was expected to support the Ministry of Health in

making these inputs available at the district level. Most of CHAs who received training through

ViM still lacked access to these health inputs at the end of September 2013. In total, 99 cases (47

females and 52 males) of simple diarrhea among children 2-59 months were treated by CHAs by

September 30, 2013.

Activity 3.2.5 Support integration of CHA in government health system

The Directorate of community health finalized the community health national policy approved by

partners including SC in December 2012. This document is still waiting the signature of the

Minister of Health to be made official. During meetings with the Directorate of community health

(DCH), ViM advocated for significant roles and a standard profile for CHAs. The DCH mandated

that a consultant conduct a study about a minimum activity package, a standard profile, and

incentives for CHAs. The draft report was not submitted for discussion to partners prior to a change

in Director in July 2013. ViM expects to contribute to the report finalization as soon as a validation

process is approved by the new director.

Activity 3.2.6 Pilot “listening posts” project to be integrated into GoBF food security and

nutritional surveillance policies and programs

ViM conducted a partner mobilization workshop under the leadership of the Governor in June

2013. Twenty-three representatives from food security and nutrition sectors participated. It was

agreed that only data that are not covered by existing information systems, mainly public

information systems, would be directly collected by the listening post system.

ViM trained 15 of its field staff members on data collection of the nutrition component in July

2013. Field staff collected the first data in August 2013 and September 2013 from six pilot sites.

Unfortunately, the public sector composed of Regional directorates of the Ministry of Agriculture

and the, Ministry of Livestock could not at the time fulfill its commitments due to lack of resources

for the agriculture and livestock local department and software problem for the health sector. ViM

is assessing potential options to fill the gap temporarily.

Activity 3.2.7 Contribute to national IYCF and CCM policy efforts

During FY 13 ViM regularly participated in the meetings of the infant and young child feeding

(IYCF) subgroup of the nutrition thematic group under the leadership of UNICEF. One of the

results of IYCF subgroup advocacy was the decision made by the Directorate of Nutrition to

develop a plan for scaling up of IYCF practices.

ViM also contributed to the operationalization of CCM policy. A CCM diarrhea module is

available at the directorate of maternal and child health, however, there was no clear session plan

for facilitators at the local level during professional or community health agent trainings. ViM

developed a draft session plan that was validated by regional and health districts (kaya and

Barsalogho) in May 2013. The approved session plan was used during professional health agents

and CHA trainings respectively in May and June 2013.



In collaboration with International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), the leader of this activity

in Burkina Faso, VIM organized in Kaya a training of stakeholders about the international code of

Breast Milk Substitute (BMS) marketing and Burkinabe BMS decree in July 2013. This regulation

encourages the use of Exclusive Breastfeeding among the population and IBFAN is the lead of

this activity in Burkina Faso. Informing stakeholders was part of an advocacy strategy for a long

run application of these regulations.

IR 3.3: Improved Hygiene and Sanitation Practices

Activity 3.3.1 Implement CLTS approach

20 village WASH committees with 313 members including 132 women were formed to conduct

CLTS approach and coordinate WASH activities within their villages. 28 villages that were trained

on CLTS process are now operational including 14 from FY12. 381 village WASH committee

members were trained through CLTS process including 149 females. As a result, farmers, as

detailed in activity 3.3.2, are constructing their family latrine by their own , without any external

support.

Activity 3.3.2 Promote essential hygiene actions (EHA) through CLTS activities

29 village WASH committees were active in promoting the construction and use of family latrines

and simplified hand washing outlets during FY13. The sensitization sessions reached 17,515,

cumulatively (4,623 adult males, 6,355 adult females; 2,678 boys and 3,859 girls aged of 8-

17years). 102 family latrines were newly constructed during FY13 by villagers on their own as

well as 235 simplified hand washing outlets.

At school settings, 58 primary school teachers and 370 student members of school based “clubs

culturels” were trained on good WASH behaviors between May and June 2013 and will contribute

to scale up the sensitization process. Access to soap is an important constraint to hand washing

that will be addressed in FY14 through the ViM small grant program to promote soap production

locally at affordable prices.

Activity 3.3.3 Construct and rehabilitate existing water sanitation facilities

Nine public latrines of 22 stalls were constructed during FY13 at market places, schools and health

facilities (4, 2, and 3 respectively). Six management committees were formed during year two and

trained to manage and maintain six public latrines. ViM WASH field officers continue to monitor

and provide additional advice monthly in order to maintain a proper management of these facilities.

Activity 3.3.4 Increase awareness of government subsidies to individual HH latrines

ViM staff made contact with Ministry staff, partners such as Plan, and community members to

learn more about government subsidies modalities and share information in ViM area. Government

subsidies to individual households for the latrines’ construction were supposed to start in 2013 but

it now seems like this initiative has been put on hold.



B. Success Story

“Access to quality seeds, a

means of fighting the hunger

period in Burkina Faso”

Under the USAID Food for

Peace’s funded ViM program,

reducing food insecurity

among vulnerable populations

in Burkina Faso is managed,

in part, through “increased

and diversified agricultural

production.”

Ms. Bamogo is a

30 year old woman living in

the village of Bangassé in the

province of Sanmatenga in the

Central North region of

Burkina Faso. She is an active member of the

“Teega Wendé” farmer group and a beneficiary of the ViM project. In June 2013, ViM organized

20 agricultural input fairs to facilitate smallholder farmer access to improved and locally adapted

seeds and fertilizers. Among these beneficiaries stood Ms. Bamogo who purchased improved

cowpea seeds from a local agro-dealer present at the fair. Ms. Bamogo then participated in FFS

activities, notably learning about best practices for increasing crop yields and picking a suitable

field site for her cowpea crops.

During one of his visits to her field, a LIP field officer from ATAD was pleased to observe that

Ms. Bamogo had carefully followed the teachings of the FFS modules as her cowpea crops were

in excellent condition. He found a smiling Ms. Bamogo, who showed great enthusiasm for the

project. She stated: “When I look at my cowpea field this year, I have no doubt that the improved

cowpea seeds will yield more. As it is an early variety, I will be able to harvest sooner, so this will

considerably help my family during the hunger season.”

A grateful Ms. Bamogo concluded the visit by stating: “I understand that I owe this support to

somewhere very far from here that is America. This support is important for the inhabitants of our

small village. Thank you to everyone that made it possible.”

Ms. Bamogo in her cowpea field - Photo by O. Yacouba



C. Lessons Learned

During FY13, ViM learned several following lessons through its implementation experience:

SO 1: Increased and diversified agricultural production

Engage both AGRODIA and its agro-dealers members and no-members alike earlier in

the pre-planning and preparation of each voucher activity. Hold a participatory

workshop to invite input to the logistical planning, supply and delivery of inputs. These

will improve coordination, sharing of information, and participation of wholesalers and

vendors of inputs at input fairs. It will also offer an exchange of ideas for building

commercial links with rural producers and affordable ways to supply inputs to this

market;

Start the logistical planning and coordination for agricultural inputs three months before

the production campaign. This will allow the wholesalers and agro-dealers sufficient

time to negotiate contracts with seed producers and avoid potential supply breaks;

Verify thoroughly the availability of agricultural inputs in the region before any

contractual commitment with its implementing partner; Anticipate the environmental

requirements for pesticide use and allow for adequate time to complete a PERSUAP in

order to successfully integrate it with programming elements.

SO 3: Reduced chronic malnutrition among children under 5 years of age and pregnant and

lactating women (PLW)

Village Health and Nutrition Committees need to be strengthened to conduct

community health assessment and planning to increase community ownership and self-

promotion; ViM promoters will provide additional training and advice to this end;

Unpaid Food Management Committee members need incentives regarding their

workload. The program provided 500 FCFA per day per member during distribution

days to subsidy their meals;

Simplify the review process for reviewing visual aids such as flip charts.

2. Attachments in FFPMIS

D. Indicator Performance Tracking Table

E. Detailed Implementation Plan

F. Expenditure Report

G. Responses to FFP feedback

3. FFPMIS Data Entry

H. Monetization Tables

I. Standardized Annual Performance Questionnaire (SAPQ)

J. Beneficiary and Resource Tracking Table

acdi/voca burkina faso - united states agency for ...pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pa00mg6c.pdf ·...

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