Weoog Paani "Ny skog" i Burkina Faso 2019-2024

Progress has been good in all three components of the project: (i) governance, (ii) forest quality and (iii) non-timber forest products (NTFP) value chains & business development. Regarding the internal collaboration between the 3 consortium members - an initial worry at the embassy - it seems to be working well. At the Annual Review meeting on 18 May 2021, the need for reliable M&E information in general but particularly on the biodiversity aspect was highlighted. In June-July 2021, the Embassy initiated a discussion with CIFOR-ICRAF and SLU regarding a possible support to Weoog Paani (and other contributions) to strengthen the monitoring & evaluation on biodiversity. The project started its activities in June 2019, why it's still rather early to expect important results. However, below is listed the key results achieved and activities undertaken during 2020: - Soil improvements on 894 ha (involving 21 672 people). - Construction of 145 "boulis" (traditional small rainwater dams) in the forests. - Construction of 53 558 improved mud stoves in over 20 000 rural households. - Plantation of 739 200 tree plants around boulis and elsewhere in the forests. - Revision of the Project Document. - 20 studies (preparation of 21 forest management plans, feasability studies for "boulis", study on soil neutrality, assessment of carbon sequestration in 13 forests, studies on NTFPs, identification of financial needs of small forest village enterprises, study on existing management procedures in small village forest enterprises). - Base line study on 4 selected NTFP value chains. - Support to set-up of small village forest enterprises and support to 35 of these. - Support to an overall organisation of NTFP producers (20 meetings). - 4 regional training workshops on the functioning of value chain clusters (groups of actors in same area). - Support to selection of focal points for value chains and training of these focal points. - Training on certification methods for forests. - Certification of karité/shea products from 2 units. - 4 feasibility studies for processing units. - Training workshop for microfinance partners on forestry and NTPs. - Support to set-up of savings groups and support to 11 814 members of small village forest enterprises. - Preparation of digitalisation of the karité/shea value chain. - Training of microfinance institutions on local savings. There are no important unexpected results to report, apart possibly the seemingly quick effect on biodiversity by the 145 "bullies" (small traditional water dams) that have been (subjectively) reported to have increased insect numbers and attracted mammals such as elephants. The increasing insecurity in Burkina Faso has had only minor effects on the activities. One of the communes (Barsalogho) and some forests with difficult access have been replaced in others. The remedy to insecurity in certain areas has been mainly to work through local actors, a strategy used also by other partners (SOS Sahel, FAO). COVID19 has had a very small effect on the contribution. An aspect that has not been sufficiently analysed is how the contribution may affect conflict prevention, in other words the "triple nexus". It seems obvious that increased income has a preventive effect on conflict but more analysis is needed. Results 2023-May 2024 Most important results achieved by 2023-2024: Examples of results that have been achieved in 2023-2024: Regarding Specific Objective 1: Promote an environment conducive to local governance of forest resources, the most important activities and results in 2023-2024 were: - Forest inventory in 26 of the 37 forest areas (some areas are inaccessible). This inventory revealed an improvement in forest regeneration. - Implementation of the gender strategy and social inclusion in forest governance through training. Actions under the gender strategy have equipped players throughout the implementation chain to adopt a gender-sensitive approach to monitoring and implementing activities. This has improved the participation of women and internally displaced persons by 57.93%. - The extension and rehabilitation of the Nutrient Gardens and Nurseries through the construction of 25 boreholes equipped with solar drainage systems reinforces the consideration of the specific needs of men and women. Gender mainstreaming is systematically applied to all actions. In addition, provisional data from the RHOMIS 2023 survey shows that women's ability to influence crops for sale has risen from 39% in 2021 to 43% in 2023, their confidence in expressing their opinion on household matters has increased from 16% in 2021 to 21% in 2023, and their responsibility in leadership roles within the community has risen from 20% in 2021 to 24% in 2023-2024. Regarding specific Objective 2: Strengthen the regeneration, production and preservation potential of forest areas and community adaptation to climate change, the most important activities and results in 2023 were: - Implementation of the capacity building plan (22 plants nurserymen, 120 women) has improved the supply of seedlings in the communities, thereby increasing income, improving women's use of the Nutritious Gardens, and creating over 99 ha of reclaimed land. - Planting of forest species in forest areas (75 084/67 584 seedlings), transplanting of shea, baobab and moringa plants (25 035/25 000 seedlings), construction and use of 26 618 improved 3-stones fireplaces for host households and IDPs to reduce firewood consumption by 30-50%, reclamation of degraded land in forest areas (177,66/100), construction of forest roads (104,92/201 km), as well as actions to improve the productivity and enrichment of shea trees in collaboration with the research institute (INERA), have all contributed to improving protection, regeneration, production and diversification of forest areas, thus helping to achieve the objective of "increasing and diversifying the potential of forest areas". - Evaluation of the project's contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gases amounts to - 1,029,350 tC02eq, showing the improvement of the carbon sequestration potential of the forests through actions implemented and proposing management and improvement methods. This result is the project contribution to the assessment and implementation of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and Land Degradation Neutrality in Burkina Faso. For Specific Objective 3: Increase stakeholders' income through the economic development of forest resources, the most important activities and results in 2023-2024 were : -Establishment of nutritious gardens for IDPs and strengthening of the production capacity of existing gardens through the installation of boreholes equipped with solar drainage systems has enabled an estimated production of 207 tons of Moringa leaves and 247 tons of Baobab leaves, generating an income of about 74,187,000 CFA/year (SEK 1,291,677) for the benefit of 1,354 women, including 315 IDPs. This has improved women's income and empowerment. - The clusters operation has led to the signing of 81 sales contracts for approximately 1 680 tons of shea nuts and 13 tons of shea butter. In addition, the certification of processed products from 600 ha of certified organic forest for the benefit of 1 646 members, most of them women, for 240 tons of almonds collected has generated revenues estimated at XOF 48 million (SEK 835,733); and 20 tons of butter with revenues estimated at XOF 26 million (SEK 452,689). In this way, local forest enterprises are developing value chains for forest products at the regional level. Brief analysis of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with results achieved in 2023-2024. Satisfaction analysis: The level of achievement is satisfactory given the implementation context marked by insecurity and withdrawal of UNCDF. This shows the dynamism, consortium members skills and synergy and stakeholders commitment and resilience. In addition, stakeholders openness and initiatives enabled them to overcome the constraints of insecurity, socio-political instability and institutional change. Analysis of dissatisfactions: During 2023-2024, security situation, political instability and institutional changes had an impact on the implementation of certain activities. These dissatisfactions include: - transfer of skills and resources in the forestry sector that is not yet effective, despite Tree Aid's advocacy efforts. - Support for the process of classification, concession and registration of forests in pilot communes: the established roadmap could not be implemented due to movements and agendas of the authorities and central directors. - Support for the revitalization of the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification system as part of the National Designated Contribution/Neutrality regarding Land Degradation, in the project area could not be started because institutional changes prevented the activity from being launched on time. Unexpected results in 2023-2024: - The involvement of internally displaced persons in project activities has facilitated their integration into host communities. - Establishing contacts at trade fairs has enabled us to forge relationships with exhibitors abroad. For example, the Coordination of grassroots organizations of Po and Fada benefited from trips to Abidjan, Bamako and Dakar to exhibit their products. - The valorization of residues from butter production into briquettes and charcoal has won prizes at innovation fairs, and business relations for these products are under construction.

The development objective is "Sustainable improvement of the living conditions of the rural population in the target zones through improved governance of forest resources, investments in the forests and the valorization of non-timber forest products while contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals" ("Amélioration durable des conditions de vie des populations rurales de la zone dintervention du projet à travers la promotion de la gouvernance locale des ressources forestières, les investissements dans les forêts et la valorisation des PFNLs et ce dans loptique de la réalisation des Objectifs du Développement Durable"). The specific objectives refer to improved local forest governance, improved sylviculture and increased income for vulnerable households and are formulated as follows: 1. Promote an enabling environment for local governance of forest resources in 25 municipalities in 5 regions 2. Strengthen the regeneration, preservation and production capacities of forest areas 3. Increase the incomes of actors through the improved economic importance of forest resources