The Central-North region of Burkina Faso (specifically Yirgou and Gasseliki villages) has experienced frequent attacks by non-state armed groups, besides the inter-community clashes in Barsalogho. These actions led to internal displacements of the population since the beginning of 2019. The displaced communities lost their livelihood means. Moreover, there was widespread food insecurity during the dry season between June and August 2019. 

The government emergency services, the United Nations (UN) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) undertook a rapid joint assessment in mid-January 2019 in order to understand the needs of the displaced population. The national nutrition survey undertaken in September 2018 showed that the Central-North region had about 28 percent of children under five years who were stunted and almost nine percent who were wasted. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) carried out in November 2018 showed that the food security and nutrition situation of the Central-North region was critical during the lean season of June- August 2019 and about 676 200 people were affected.

Against this background, the French government financed a project led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) entitled “Support to vulnerable households affected by food insecurity and conflicts in the Central-North region of Burkina Faso”. The project received USD 505 051 and was implemented between May 2019 and June 2020. This promising practice is an example of a resilience-building intervention implemented through an integrated, community-based, multi-partner approach operationalizing the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.