February 16, 2023 | Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
During a national policy conference in Burkina Faso, local PEP researchers shared policy recommendations aimed at reducing the vulnerability of rural households, particularly women farmers, to climate shocks.
February 16, 2023 - A team of local PEP researchers held a national policy conference to share their recommendations for policy measures that could enable the Government of Burkina Faso to effectively reduce the vulnerability of rural households, particularly women farmers, to climate shocks.
The team brought together over 50 policy stakeholders and advisors, academics, representatives of civil society and the private sector for the event. The key policy stakeholders in attendance included representatives of the Ministry of Solidarity, Humanitarian Action, National Reconciliation, Gender and the Family (MSARNGF), the Directorate General for the Promotion of the Rural Economy, representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Resources and Fisheries, and the Directorate General of the Economy and Planning (DGEP).
Dr. Farida KOINDA shared the team's findings and recommendations from their PEP project, which focused on how changes in rainfall affect men and women differently in Burkina Faso's farming communities.
She explained how the effects of climate change, such as severe droughts, significantly diminish rural households' well-being by shrinking incomes, raising poverty levels, and exacerbating food insecurity. She then shared the team's findings showing that efficient water management could significantly mitigate the socio-economic effects of unpredictable rainfall. This approach could considerably ease the burdens on women's productivity and household responsibilities.
The audience showed their appreciation for the team's methodology and findings, with the team expressing optimism that their research could inform policies to reduce women's vulnerability to climate change. Notably, the Directorate-General for Plant Production (DGPV) agreed with the team's research, confirming through their own studies that the agricultural yields from plots managed by women significantly exceeded those of men.
Two journalists attended the event, including from Lefaso.net and e-prevision Economy, underlining the public interest in the team's results and recommendations.
The research team organized the event with financial and advisory support from PEP and Global Affairs Canada.
