In Burkina Faso, where conflict and insecurity continue to uproot families, a 36-month project, led by Acted, IMPACT and Concern Worldwide, aimed to address the growing challenges faced by the Burkinabè population, by providing emergency multi-sectoral assistance to people affected by displacement, while supporting livelihoods and economic recovery.
Launched in July 2022, the three-year initiative aimed to assist nearly 250,000 people displaced or otherwise affected by the crisis, bringing together international and local partners to respond to urgent needs in food security, shelter, water and sanitation, and livelihoods.
Food, Water, and Shelter Amid Displacement
Communities in the North, East, Centre-East and Boucle du Mouhoun regions received multi-sectoral support. Nearly 60,000 people have benefitted from food rations, alongside awareness campaigns on nutrition and safe food storage. Vulnerable households have also received livestock feed to help protect one of their most critical assets.
In parallel, displaced families were supported with 2,633 emergency and transitional shelters, more than 8,800 kits of essential household items, and governance structures to ensure sites were managed inclusively.
Access to clean water and hygiene also was a lifeline: 58 water points were built or rehabilitated, 332 latrines and showers were constructed, and thousands of hygiene and menstrual kits were distributed.
Building Resilience Beyond Emergency Relief
Beyond immediate survival, the project invested in people’s ability to recover. Skills training, vocational programs, and business workshops helped hundreds of Burkinabè develop new income streams. Community savings and loan groups were set up to strengthen economic resilience at the grassroots level, with nearly 700 people benefiting from “business skills” training, and 230 people benefiting from vocational training.
Inoussa, a traditional pastry/bakery promoter, followed a training in entrepreneurship, after which he received funding from Acted that enabled him to rebuild his traditional oven.
First and foremost, I love traditional patisserie, it gives me money and joy, and the opportunity that Acted has given me with this funding is one to be seized.
At the same time, large-scale needs assessments were conducted to inform the wider humanitarian community, ensuring that assistance is based on the latest evidence of people’s needs across the country.
Responding to a Multidimensional Crisis
Burkina Faso is grappling with a complex crisis where insecurity, climate shocks and economic hardship collide. For displaced families, survival depends on more than food or shelter alone — it requires a combination of urgent aid and long-term support to restore dignity and stability.
This project sought to strike that balance: saving lives today while helping communities rebuild for tomorrow.