Burkina Faso: Prevention and Resilience for the Future of Titao
In the north of Burkina Faso, the urban commune of Titao has experienced years of turbulence marked by waves of armed attacks and a fragile security environment. Today, while the challenges persist, the Prevention and Resilience for the Future (PREVENIR) project is positioning itself as a pillar of resistance for the benefit of the population.
Launched in July 2021 and financed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this 45-month programme implemented by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has as one of its missions, to strengthen the protection of populations and consolidate social cohesion. Here's how it's gradually changing the face of Titao.
Posted on 11 Mar 2025
Enhanced protection services
Since 2022, Titao has been facing a double crisis: the isolation of the town by armed actors and the influx of more than 58,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) according to CONASUR on 31 March 2023. These factors have led to a deterioration in basic social services, increasing the vulnerability of the inhabitants.
Faced with this reality, the PREVENIR project stands out for its multi-sectoral approach. Priority has been given to protection services .
Individual Protection Assistance (API), including basic necessities such as soap, has enabled many people to regain a sense of dignity and security in a hostile environment.
Overall, the PREVENIR project has enabled more than 7,000 people to benefit from protection services in Burkina Faso, including Titao. This includes individual protection assistance, as well as psychosocial support and participation in awareness-raising activities.
This API has enabled me not only to avoid the risks of exploiting my children through work, but also to avoid any sexual assaults that I might have incurred by venturing outside the city limits to fetch food or collect wood for resale in order to meet my family's basic needs. The API that I received was a huge relief. For example, in Titao in December, soap was considered gold. We couldn't take a bath with soap, let alone do laundry. I have a baby and I couldn't offer him the minimum of hygienic conditions. I couldn't afford soap because the price had almost tripled with the blockade of the city. We (women) were obliged to wet the roots of a tree for a week in order to obtain a soapy liquid for clothes washing. The API I received contained soap and you can't imagine how relieved that made me feel
/ Jacqueline (not her real name), a beneficiary of Individual Protection Assistance (API)
Repairing the social fabric: a quest for lasting peace
In addition to the humanitarian response, the PREVENIR project addresses social fractures. Between the end of 2022 and March 2024, 4 types of local conflicts were recorded in the commune, including conflicts over natural resources (water, firewood), land, leadership and marital/family disputes, all of which are jeopardising social cohesion. Through Rapid Conflict Analyses (RCA), the project aims to identify the root causes of tensions and propose appropriate solutions.
With the support of endogenous mediators trained by DRC, local conflict resolution mechanisms have been strengthened, fostering a sustainable peace dynamic.
Between 2023 and 2024, 13 dialogue facilitations, 21 mediations initiated in concert with endogenous mediators previously trained by DRC, and 12 capacity-building workshops on the root causes of conflict were conducted in the commune.
By discussing our differences openly, we can work together to build a more harmonious future.
/ Hamidou (not his real name), a local resident involved in these initiatives:
Rebuilding our future together
In Titao, the road to stability remains an ongoing process, the PREVENIR project shows that an integrated response, combining protection and social cohesion, can lay the foundations for collective resilience.
While the local population continues to face daily challenges, initiatives such as PREVENIR offer a glimmer of hope for a more peaceful and cohesive future.
