BURKINA FASO VICTORY AGAINST MALNUTRITION PLUS VIMPLUS FY2021 Q1 QUARTERLY REPORT: OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020 DEVELOPMENT FOOD SECURITY ACTIVITY NO. 72DFFP18CA00008 JANUARY 29, 2021

BURKINA FASO VICTORY AGAINST MALNUTRITION PLUS (VIMPLUS) DEVELOPMENT FOOD SECURITY ACTIVITY NO. 72DFFP18CA00008 Fiscal Year 2021 Quarter 1 Report Submitted to United States Agency for International Development Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance Original Submission Date: January 29, 2021

— , Resilience & Headquarters Contact Name Growth

Headquarters Contact Address ACDI/VOCA 50 F Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20001

Headquarters Contact Phone Number

Headquarters Contact Fax Number

Headquarters Contact Email Address

Host Country Office Contact Name

Host Country Office Contact Address ACDI/VOCA—Burkina Faso Secteur 19, cité SOCOGIB de Somgandé, 05 BP 6050 Ouagadougou 05, Burkina Faso Host Country Office Contact Phone Number

Host Country Office Contact Fax Number N/A

Host Country Office Contact Email Address

DISCLAIMER: This report is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of ACDI/VOCA and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

ViMPlus is part of USAID’s Resilience in the Sahel Enhanced II (RISE II) initiative, which supports vulnerable communities in Burkina Faso and Niger to effectively prepare for and manage recurrent crises and pursue sustainable pathways out of poverty. Burkina Faso Victory against Malnutrition Plus 72DFFP18CA00008 Quarterly Progress Report: October – December 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACTIVITY SUMMARY ...... 1 ACTIVITY OUTPUTS ...... 1 Purpose I. Inclusive Governance of Local Institutions and Community-Based Organizations is Enhanced for the Food Security of Vulnerable Households ...... 1 Purpose 2. Health, Nutrition, and WASH of Vulnerable Households, Especially Adolescent Girls, Pregnant and Lactating Women, and Children Within the First 1,000 Days, is Improved ...... 3 Purpose 3. The Economic Wellbeing of Vulnerable Households Equitably Increased and Sustained ...... 5 Purpose 4. Women and Youth Sustain Positive Change in their Lives, their Families, and Communities through Adoption of Adaptive and Transformative Strategies ...... 6 MONITORING & EVALUATION ...... 7 GRANTS MANAGEMENT ...... 7 CHALLENGES ...... 8 PLANNED INTERVENTIONS ...... 8 ANNEXES ...... 8 ANNEX 1. SUCCESS STORY ...... 8

Burkina Faso Victory against Malnutrition Plus 72DFFP18CA00008 Quarterly Program Progress Report: October - December 2020

ACRONYM LIST

ASBC Agent de Santé de Base Communautaire (Community Health Agents) BA Breakthrough Action CLTS Community Led Total Sanitation CFV Commission Foncière Villageoise (Village Land Commission) CCFV Commission de Conciliation Foncière Villageoise (Village Land Conciliation Commission) CSPS Centre de Santé et Promotion Sociale (Community Health Center) CVD Conseil Villageois de Développement (Village Development Councils) FRI Farm Radio International FY Fiscal Year GASPA Groupe d’Apprentissage et de Suivi des Pratiques d’Alimentation du Nourrisson et du Jeune Enfants (Learning and Monitoring Groups for Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices) Ha Hectare HH Household HNW Health, Nutrition, and WASH IGA Income-Generating Activity LIP Local Implementing Partner M&E Monitoring and Evaluation PDQ Partnership Defined Quality OCADES Organisation Catholique pour le Développement Et la Solidarité QIT Quality Improvement Team SBC Social and Behavior Change SILC Savings and Internal Lending Community SMC Site Management Committee TEV TerreEauVie ViMPlus Victory Against Malnutrition Plus WASH Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene WUA Water User Association ZOI Zone of Implementation

Burkina Faso Victory against Malnutrition Plus 72DFFP18CA00008 Quarterly Program Progress Report: October - December 2020

ACTIVITY SUMMARY In Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20), the Victory Against Malnutrition Plus (ViMPlus) Activity focused on stabilizing vulnerable households within its Zone of Implementation (ZOI) to allow for greater economic growth in later years of the project. While the Activity effectively implemented most of these stabilization activities within the previous fiscal year, some activities were completed in the first quarter of FY21. Additionally, ViMPlus staff dedicated significant effort to planning for the more sustainable economic growth activities (adaptation interventions) that will begin in the second quarter of FY21. These adaptation interventions follow the ViMPlus “Stabilize-Adapt-Thrive” approach laid out as part of the original ViMPlus proposal. In this reporting quarter, ViMPlus launched the implementation of various strategies and models such as the Social Cohesion and Accountability Strategy, and the Governance Strategy, which focuses on strengthening organizational leadership, as well as the agricultural extension and training system. Furthermore, in light of increasing COVID-19 cases, ViMPlus scaled up handwashing systems (tippy-taps) and the dissemination of barrier measures. Also, ViMPlus reviewed the landscape of agricultural production within its ZOI by monitoring and evaluating post-harvest activities of targeted value chains (sorghum, cowpea, and rice).

At the partnership level, ViMPlus finalized contracts with Local Implementing Partners (LIPs). In January 2021, these LIPs will begin the technical implementation of activities across their allocated villages/communes. Likewise, ViMPlus collaborated with partners such as RISE II actors and coordination bodies, both at regional Key ViMPlus Achievements in and national levels. As part of ViMPlus’ implementation of its social FY21Q1 and behavior change (SBC) strategy and the social cohesion and accountability strategy, ViMPlus partnered with Farm Radio • 9,700 women trained on infant flour production. International (FRI), TerreEauVie (TEV), Breakthrough Action (BA) • 436 radio messages broadcast on and local radio stations for the production and dissemination of social behavior change, technical materials. In addition, ViMPlus completed its recruitment transparency, social cohesion, for the implementation of agriculture infrastructure, recruiting a inclusion, and COVID-19. construction specialist, an irrigation specialist, and an • 619 new tippy-taps in communes built by households. environmental compliance specialist. • 160 hectares of half-moon, 200 ha of zaï, and 3,600 cubic meters of gully In the next reporting quarter, ViMPlus will launch implementation treatment to protect the lowlands. of livestock vouchers, rehabilitation of boreholes, the capacity • 29.35 hectares of market gardening building plan for producers through their organizations, as well as developed. • 4,078 Aquatab tablets sold to 2,376 the development of leadership strengthening plans for the village households to improve access to development councils (Conseil Villageois de Développement [CVDs]) safe drinking water. and Water-Users Associations (WUAs).

ACTIVITY OUTPUTS

PURPOSE I. INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IS ENHANCED FOR THE FOOD SECURITY OF VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS ViMPlus initiated the development of capacity building plans to strengthen CVDs to perform an organizational capacity self-assessment. The Activity also produced and broadcasted radio programs related to the principles of accountability and social cohesion. In addition, as a follow-up to the diagnostic workshops on social cohesion conducted in June and July 2020, and the report adopted in September, ViMPlus launched a plan to promote values that foster social cohesion. As part of ViMPlus' efforts to 1 Burkina Faso Victory against Malnutrition Plus 72DFFP18CA00008 Quarterly Program Progress Report: October – December 2020

strengthen land tenure security, the Activity partnered with FRI to produce and disseminate interactive programs that promote favorable behaviors related to land tenure security and the peaceful management of conflicts related to natural resource access and use.

Improving the organizational and operational capacity of local governance structures: Over the course of the Activity, this intervention will provide each CVD with a capacity building plan. In the reporting quarter, ten CVDs in the commune began a self-assessment process to measure their performance on: internal organization, capacity to plan and monitor community actions, administrative and financial management, partnership management, and gender mainstreaming. The assessment showed that CVDs went through difficult periods due to insecurity, which affected their stability and performance. CVDs noted difficulties, including the effective use of management tools, the ability to hold regular meetings, and the effective and regular participation of all CVD members in activities. About 44 members representing the CVDs, including 26 women, took part in this first session, which was facilitated by the ViMPlus Governance team. Next quarter, ViMPlus will validate the ten capacity building plans under development, submitted by the ten CVDs in Yalgo commune, and will build on this momentum to work with other communes. By the end of the Activity, ViMPlus will support the development of at least 239 CVD plans in the entire coverage area, including 130 plans for CVDs and 109 plans for WUAs. To reinforce and ensure the sustainability of this process, the Activity involved Yalgo commune leaders. Furthermore, to strengthen CVD leadership and contribute to conflict reduction between populations and their leaders, ViMPlus produced and broadcast a radio program on the concept of accountability. The Activity ultimately made 84 broadcasts on three community radio stations covering the ZOI.

Creating a conducive environment for peaceful coexistence: ViMPlus began implementing its social cohesion strategy, which was validated by regional and national authorities. The Activity produced and broadcast three radio programs on (i) positive values to be adopted and promoted, (ii) negative values/behavior to be discouraged, and (iii) tools and strategies to promote social cohesion to be adopted. ViMPlus made a total of 252 broadcasts on radio stations in Kongoussi Lakes, Radio Basneré in Tougouri, and Radio Manegda in Kaya and Barsalogho.

Next quarter, ViMPlus will continue to promote social cohesion mechanisms. During this second phase, radio broadcasts will integrate conflict management. For all radio broadcasts, the Activity will conduct an audience study to assess the size of the target audience, the programs’ immediate effects, and the alignment of results with the Social Cohesion Strategy.

As established in the FY21 annual work plan, ViMPlus initiated activities to address land tenure issues associated with agricultural infrastructure. Under FRI’s contract, the Activity developed and broadcast radio programs on land tenure security and the general principles of access to land. During the next quarter, the Governance team will work with Amélioration et Sécurisation des Terres vers la Résilience (ASTER) to operationalize two local government structures—the Village Land Commission (Commission Foncière Villageoise [CFV]) and the Village Land Concilation Commission (Commission de Conciliation Foncière Villageoise [CCFV])—to improve the land security of agricultural infrastructures.

2 Burkina Faso Victory against Malnutrition Plus 72DFFP18CA00008 Quarterly Program Progress Report: October – December 2020

PURPOSE 2. HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND WASH OF VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS, ESPECIALLY ADOLESCENT GIRLS, PREGNANT AND LACTATING WOMEN, AND CHILDREN WITHIN THE FIRST 1,000 DAYS, IS IMPROVED To improve the nutrition of young children and contribute to the consumption of local food, this quarter's interventions focused on producing infant flour and processing dark green leafy vegetables in the Learning and Monitoring Groups for Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices (Groupe d’Apprentissage et de Suivi des Pratiques d’ Alimentation du Nourrisson et du Jeune Enfants [GASPAs]). In addition, ViMPlus implemented activities to strengthen access to safe drinking water and to promote good hygiene practices in households, particularly in light of COVID-19, through community platforms.

Increasing consumption of nutritious foods in households: • Processing and preservation of dark green leafy vegetables: ViMPlus trained 8,218 women GASPA members to produce tomato paste and drying techniques for dark green leaves to optimize the micronutrient content and consumption of nutritious foods during the lean season. • Promoting the consumption of locally produced infant food: ViMPlus trained 9,700 women1 GASPA members to produce infant flour composed of rich, nutritional products like cereals (millet and maize), legumes (cowpea), and oilseeds (groundnuts). The women who received training already produced 13,219 kg of infant flour for children aged 6-24 months. In addition to individual production, ViMPlus initiated group production of infant flour in the GASPAs, sharing ingredients among members. This activity helps strengthen solidarity and cohesion among members and ensures that even the most vulnerable members can build a stock of infant flour for times when basic ingredients are not readily available.

Promoting social and behavior change through GASPA groups and radio activities: • GASPA group activities: The 648 GASPA groups in the project area continued meeting twice per month to support the adoption of priority health, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices. During this quarter, the program addressed the lack of knowledge around COVID- 19 prevention practices, using interactive dialogue to reinforce the knowledge of approximately 8,900 women GASPA members on this priority. • Radio activities: Based on the positive impact of mass media on behavioral change, the program reinforced communication activities for behavior change through two interactive radio programs on

1 The difference in number of women reported for the different trainings and members who participate in GASPA meetings is due to the fact that not every woman member participates in bimonthly meetings and trainings. 3 Burkina Faso Victory against Malnutrition Plus 72DFFP18CA00008 Quarterly Program Progress Report: October – December 2020

the themes of complementary feeding, safe water, and using Aquatabs to treat drinking water. Furthermore, the program broadcast 100 radio spots in the main local languages of the area about recommended health, nutrition, and WASH (HNW) actions during the first 1,000 days of a child's life, and handwashing with soap. Implementing Partnership defined quality (PDQ) approach in priority CSPSs: ViMPlus trained six health workers and nine community actors from three priority community Partnership Defined Quality (PDQ) Approach health centers (Centre de Santé et Promotion Sociale or ViMPlus uses the PDQ approach to strengthen CSPS), identified to implement the partnership defined collaboration between communities and health workers quality (PDQ) approach. These trained actors will set at the CSPS level, increasing communities’ demand for up quality improvement teams (QITs) at the CSPS and motivation to use health services. level that will be responsible for identifying community members’ priority problems, testing solutions to improve the provision of care, and capitalizing on evidence. Promoting water, sanitation, and hygiene practices • Community-led total sanitation (CLTS) implementation: ViMPlus triggered CLTS in 29 villages by encouraging and supporting 29 village/neighborhood sanitation committees (CAV/Q) to develop community hygiene and sanitation action plans. Following this, community members dug 109 latrine pits and 38 latrines in the Activity’s area. ViMPlus will monitor construction of latrines in the second quarter. • Market based sanitation: During this quarter, ViMPlus participated in inception calls with PRO- WASH, a market-based sanitation consultant, to detail activities for the third quarter, including training staff on sales and marketing and developing a sales and marketing strategy based on the WASH market assessment report. • Promotion of handwashing: SBC activities on handwashing with soap during COVID-19 motivated communities to build 619 new tippy-taps in households (HHs), bringing the total number of tippy-taps in the area to 2,334. ViMPlus staff monitored the use of 652 tippy-taps in HHs and public places and reported that 87 percent are commonly used by beneficiaries (through observation). Improving access to safe drinking water and local governance of water: ViMPlus trained 198 Community Health Agents (Agents de Santé de Base Communautaire [ASBCs]), who sold 4,078 Aquatabs tablets (each including 10 Aquatab pills) to 2,376 households (5.87 percent of households in the product promotion area), thus increasing access to chlorinated drinking water. In addition, ViMPlus trained 8,640 GASPA members on drinking water treatment techniques, including the use of Aquatabs. To support the sustainable management of water points, ViMPlus helped the members of 25 WUAs to develop drinking water action plans. The implementation of these plans resulted in the completion of protection measures for 25 water points, such as weeding, collection and installation of pebbles, gravel, and materialization of a protection perimeter. Lastly, ViMPlus launched the procurement process to select a company that will lead the rehabilitation of 16 water points in the project area to further reinforce beneficiaries' access to drinking water.

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PURPOSE 3. THE ECONOMIC WELLBEING OF VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS EQUITABLY INCREASED AND SUSTAINED ViMPlus continued to monitor agricultural production, raise awareness in preparation for the launch of the Income-Generating Activity (IGA) microenterprise program and agreements with Caisse Populaire and the Organisation Catholique pour le Développement Et la Solidarité (OCADES) for the establishment of savings and credit groups.

Diversifying and increasing agricultural production for consumption and sale: During the reporting quarter, ViMPlus finalized post-harvest activities, collecting performance data on agricultural production. In an evaluation of sorghum and cowpea production, the Activity recorded the following average yields: 760 kg/hectare (ha) for cowpea in pure culture (+10.14 percent increase versus 690 kg in IPTT forecast), and 920 kg/ha for sorghum (+12.20 percent increase versus 820 kg in IPTT forecast). The increase in cowpea and sorghum yields can be attributed to using improved seeds and fertilizers distributed by ViMPlus, as well as the good rainfall recorded this year in the Centre Nord region: 930.2 mm in 46 days in ; 1,040.7 mm in 44 days in Namentenga, and 905 mm in 45 days in Sanmatenga. The monitoring of rice production gives an average yield of 3.25 tons/ha (which is a +19.93 percent increase versus 2.71 tons/ha in the IPTT forecast). In total, ViMPlus supported 577 farmers in the eight lowlands to sow 51.02 hectares, with total production of 165.81 tons.

Based on caloric needs, one adult requires an annual ration of 198 kg of commodities (90 kg sorghum, 72 kg rice, and 36 kg cowpea). The total production (9,358.70 tons) of 8,682 producers supported by ViMPlus in FY20 can feed 47,266 people during one year. For the current 2020/2021 market gardening production, 587 farmers (373 women and 214 men) benefited from 17.55 tons of fertilizer (11.74 tons of NPK and 5.87 tons of Urea) to cover 29.35 ha. The monitoring showed that 100 percent of the 29.35 ha have been transplanted. The area transplanted in onions represents 75 percent (22.01 ha) of the total area and other vegetables (tomatoes, cabbage, and green beans) represent the remaining 25 percent.

Rehabilitating and protecting lowlands and market gardening perimeters: In the reporting quarter, as part of ViMPlus’ continued plan to rehabilitate lowlands and market gardening perimeters, the Activity launched efforts to rehabilitate five market gardening perimeters with a total area of 38.75 ha. The Activity already competed the scope of work, quantities, costs of work, and prepared tender documents to recruit firms. ViMPlus will finalize the call for tenders during the next quarter.

In addition, the Activity held exchange and sensitization meetings at the sites for beneficiaries through site management committees (SMCs) to encourage their full participation in the rehabilitation work. Twenty SMC members took part in these meetings and shared the information with other members.

In collaboration with the World Food Program and its implementing partners (DRAAH and APIL), ViMPlus conducted activities to protect lowlands and market gardening perimeters. The Activity carried out 160 ha of half-moon, 200 ha of zaï, and 5 Burkina Faso Victory against Malnutrition Plus 72DFFP18CA00008 Quarterly Program Progress Report: October – December 2020

3,600 cubic meters of gully treatment to protect the lowlands of Sidogo, Gabou, and the market gardening perimeters of Basma, Kame Mossi, and Kame Peulh. A total of 1,441 participants (864 women and 577 men), benefited from 150 tons of food. These protection activities aim to slow down the speed of runoff water to reduce soil erosion in these lowlands and market gardening perimeters as well as to promote the accumulation of organic matter essential to improve soil health.

Diversifying and improving the sources of income for vulnerable households: ViMPlus continued activities to set up and run village banks and savings and internal lending communities (SILC) by launching two calls for proposals with the Réseau des Caisses Populaires du Centre (RCPC) and the Réseau des Caisses Populaires du Nord (RCPN) for two lots, namely a lot of 171 village banks in the communes of Bouroum, Tougouri, Barsalogho, Namissiguima, and Pissila and a lot of 46 village banks in the communes of Yalgo, Nagbingou, and Rollo.

ViMPlus also launched a public call for tenders for three lots for the implementation and management of 105 SILC in , 91 SILC in Namentenga province, and 21 SILC in the province of Bam. Only OCADES/Kaya bid for two lots (Sanmatenga and Namentenga). The Bam lot received no bidders and was judged unsuccessful. The Activity will finalize the analysis of OCADES/Kaya files for these two lots and the agreement negotiation in January 2021. Both activities are first steps in diversifying and improving income sources for vulnerable households.

PURPOSE 4. WOMEN AND YOUTH SUSTAIN POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH ADOPTION OF ADAPTIVE AND TRAN SFORMATIVE STRATEGIES Promoting inclusive decision-making and family dialogue: ViMPlus completed the first phase of its implementation strategy to promote inclusive decision making and family dialogue. This activity, which lasted two months, enabled religious leaders to carry out the various steps of the “argumentaire religieux” for the benefit of approximately 312 households in five communes. The results of the follow-up missions, in Argumentaire Religieux collaboration with the Regional Directorate of Women, The “argumentaire religieux” is a national strategy that offers communication tools to National Solidarity, Family and Humanitarian Action, reveal religious leaders on sensitive issues related to strong community participation in this exercise. ViMPlus plans peace, solidarity, violence against women, and to hold a workshop during the second quarter to evaluate the the distribution of roles in the household. activity’s overall impact. In addition, before extending the experience to other communes in the ZOI, ViMPlus will conduct a qualitative evaluation study to measure the effects on the quality of intercouple counseling, the level of involvement of women and youth in decision making and the family’s strategic choices (purchase of goods, sale of assets, matrimonial commitments, etc.). Implementing a Social Behavior Change Strategy: ViMPlus started the implementation of its SBC strategy, including a partnership with FRI. Based on several sub-activities, the two parties validated a list of behaviors, developed message content, and defined broadcasting formats. As part of the RIM-VIM mass media campaign, the Activity produced an initial series of eleven radio programs. These programs, which focus on governance and gender-sensitive wellbeing, include the process of preparing enriched porridge for children, soil recovery techniques (zaï), crop storage, healthy water management, equitable distribution of household tasks, infant growth monitoring, agropastoral value chain promotion (sorghum, rice, cowpea, onion, poultry, and small ruminants), hygiene in the family living environment, hygienic management of menstruation, inclusive household decision making, involvement of women and young people in decision 6 Burkina Faso Victory against Malnutrition Plus 72DFFP18CA00008 Quarterly Program Progress Report: October – December 2020

making , and a broadcast assessment. The partners released the first four subthemes and will release the remaining seven in the last week of January 2021. The objective of this program series is to change important behaviors in local governance, HNW, livelihoods, and gender by providing information on the benefits of positive practices like land improvement through zaï technology. ViMPlus also partnered with FRI to participate in the design and validation of twelve drama scenarios per province in the context of interactive theater (T+). Finally, the Activity finalized a third communication tool, a radio and telephone audio game called "Bangr-noma." The game enables recipients to interact with themes by engaging with questions and answers on related positive practices. The tool is available on VIAMO's telephone platform 321. Ultimately, the Activity’s various communication approaches aim to increase the adoption rate of recommended and prioritized practices. The Activity supported the radio broadcasting system by implementing 32 community listening groups alongside FRI's partner radios and disseminating the radio broadcast schedule to recipients in three provinces. Improving opportunities usage and services by women and youth: • Implementation of positive youth development (PYD): The ViMPlus team continued working with a consultant to adapt life skills modules and tools. This module will be finalized after the training of trainers planned in Q2. ViMPlus also finalized the project's youth strategy with a collaborative approach that incorporated feedback from all component leads and government stakeholders. The Activity will disseminate and roll out the strategy in FY21 Q2. • Activities of youth/adolescent clubs: This quarter, mentors conducted activities in six youth/adolescent clubs to reach adolescents in the project area. Topics included adolescent nutrition and hygienic management of menstruation.

MONITORING & EVALUATION During the reporting quarter, ViMPlus’ monitoring and evaluation (M&E) efforts focused on database management. As part of efforts to update its database, ViMPlus input M&E forms, including FY20 training participants, into its database. In addition, the Activity processed and imported a set of data files into the database and SharePoint, including lists of GASPA groups and their members, youth clubs and their members, households that benefited from distribution activities (cash transfer and inputs voucher program), and data from the ViMPlus FY20 annual survey. To measure the project impact in FY20, ViMPlus conducted an annual survey in August - September. The team organized the supervision of data collection, cleaned the FY20 annual survey data, updated the extrapolation coefficients of the survey results, and produced the keys results tables. The team also updated the annual narrative report, IPTT, and monitoring indicators tables based on the ViMPlus FY20 surveys and routine monitoring indicator results databases.

GRANTS MANAGEMENT ViMPlus finalized its subaward contracts with LIPs to begin implementation of project activities in the eight intervention communes. Following the signing of contracts, ViMPlus organized capacity building training sessions for these LIPs on contractual clauses and submission of financial and program reports. These sessions aimed to define the institutional framework in which technical activities will take place. Also, at the administrative level, the Activity reviewed the staff proposed by LIPs to carry out the activities. ViMPlus 7 Burkina Faso Victory against Malnutrition Plus 72DFFP18CA00008 Quarterly Program Progress Report: October – December 2020

will finalize these training sessions with technical scoping meetings and a review of technical intervention plans. CHALLENGES

• Accelerating the roll-out of activities by local implementing partners. • Maintaining key COVID-19 preventative behaviors (handwashing, mask wearing etc.): Program staff had to prioritize reinforcing messages around prevention measures in every activity. • Rapid handling of delays. • Mobilization of communities around co-financed activities: The relative lull in security prevented many households to rebuild their assets sufficiently to participate in construction and agricultural development activities. • Insecurity in ZOI: The security situation within ViMPlus’ ZOI remains a major constraint. The team is constantly analyzing the evolution of the situation in order to progressively roll out interventions in the most stable villages and ensure staff and participants’ safety.

PLANNED INTERVENTIONS The table below provides a snapshot of key activities planned for the next quarter: Quarter 2 ViMPlus Planned Activities January February March Strengthen the technical capabilities of local implementing partners Develop 35 plans for strengthening CVDs Develop disaster risk management plans Evaluate the implementation of the FY20 cash transfer Develop new lowlands Rehabilitate degraded agricultural land and pastoral areas Rehabilitate boreholes Launch voucher activities for agricultural inputs Strengthen PAVAC's capacity in agricultural and animal production techniques Extend the coverage and geographic scope of community platforms

(GASPA, husband schools, youth/adolescent clubs, EAQ/CVSN, etc.) Finalize the implementation PDQ process Continue interactive radio broadcasts and the broadcasting of radio spots on HNW themes, including latrine use, menstrual health, and complementary feeding Monitor the implementation of the agreement with FRI

ANNEXES

ANNEX 1. SUCCESS STORY

8 Burkina Faso Victory against Malnutrition Plus 72DFFP18CA00008 Quarterly Program Progress Report: October – December 2020

VIMPLUS SUCCESS STORY

Community Listening Groups Encourage

Behavior Change

is a mother , in Tougouri commune, Namentenga province who reports that her husband’s attitude recently changed after he listened to a radio program about the division of household labor. He now brings her firewood and has supported her to access water several times. is a member of a community listening group (CLG) in her village that listens to local radio stations and shares information at the village or household level to facilitate positive behavior change.

The ViMPlus Activity is currently implementing a radio-based interactive media campaign (RIM-VIM) in partnership with four radio station partners and in collaboration with Farm Radio International (FRI). RIM-VIM aims to leverage CLGs to improve rural populations’ access to information and empower positive behavior change, especially for women and youth. CLGs constitute a framework for exchange, within which populations share and discuss themes targeted in the Activity’s social behavior change (SBC) strategy, mainly governance and gender-sensitive wellbeing. Within this media campaign, interactive programs that address these themes are broadcast on radio stations. CLG members then share information with the Activity and the broadcasting station, relating how their community reacted to the content of behavior change messages and comprehension difficulties during the program.

ViMPlus and FRI have established 32 CLGs in selected villages in the ViMPlus intervention area to date. CLG groups are composed of at least 15 people, including men, women, or both genders, at a rate of eight CLGs per radio station. To ensure listening access, the Activity provided each CLG with multifunction solar radios that contain a memory card for recording. CLG members listen to weekly broadcasts on the Activity’s themes and record them for replay.

In an effort to assess the mobilization and commitment of listening group members, the Activity carried out a series of supervision missions at the end of quarter one. These missions also helped the Activity to recognize the opportunity for collaborative learning. ViMPlus will follow up with an audience survey to measure the satisfaction of listening group members with the quality of programs, their relevance to the Activity’s themes, and the programs’ effects on the behaviors, practices, and perceptions of each rural community. 9 Burkina Faso Victory against Malnutrition Plus 72DFFP18CA00008 Quarterly Program Progress Report: October – December 2020

CLG members share that participating in listening groups allows them to deepen their understanding of program themes and to debate topics with other community members. For example, the , Barsalgho commune, Sanmatenga province, maintains that listening sessions are critical moments in the life of their village members. Community members debate broadcasted themes and even bring up other issues that negatively impact quality of community life to share and discuss.

CLGs have already sparked positive changes in surrounding communities, and communities have reacted very favorably to the campaign. In fact, during visits by the ViMPlus team, CLG members expressed their hope that the Activity will address as many themes as possible through this type of media campaign.

This year, ViMPlus will continue to build upon these successes by broadcasting the remaining radio programs and supporting CLGs. In partnership with FRI, ViMPlus will also release a series of 12 interactive threatre drama scenarios per province to share more important themes and stimulate further behavior change.

10 Burkina Faso Victory against Malnutrition Plus 72DFFP18CA00008 Quarterly Program Progress Report: October – December 2020